Population 89,892 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Santa Monica: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Santa Monica
Household size in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.89 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.98 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.04 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.94 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Santa Monica are small: just 1.94 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 1.89, even as the national average fell. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Santa Monica skews older than the country: its median age is 43.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.5% of households in Santa Monica, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points, even as the national share fell. Santa Monica has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Santa Monica
Renters in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.2% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 73.0% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.0% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 72.2% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Santa Monica: 72.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 45.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.1 points, mirroring the country. Only 11 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Santa Monica than nationally: 11.5%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Santa Monica is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,428 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,570 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,874 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,468 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,041 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Santa Monica pays $2,468 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,041 a month since 2006–10, up 73%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Santa Monica
Bachelor's degrees in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.1% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 64.8% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 67.9% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.9% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Santa Monica is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (70.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.7 points, mirroring the country. Only 52 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.0% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Santa Monica: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Santa Monica has a higher share of high school graduates than most California cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Santa Monica
| Period | Santa Monica | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Santa Monica than nationally: unemployment was 6.6%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Santa Monica compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | 1.94 | 43.2 | 6.5% | 72.2% | 11.5% | 1968 | $2,468 | 70.9% | 94.9% | 6.6% |
| Venice | 1.90 | 42.1 | 7.6% | 66.9% | 16.6% | 1965 | $2,950 | 70.8% | 95.5% | 9.8% |
| Pacific Palisades | 2.51 | 50.4 | 5.8% | 20.7% | 12.5% | 1964 | $3,142 | 78.4% | 98.4% | 4.9% |
| Marina Del Rey | 1.78 | 42.1 | 3.8% | 71.6% | 21.1% | 1990 | $3,418 | 73.1% | 98.4% | 5.6% |
| Culver City | 2.43 | 40.0 | 7.1% | 51.9% | 9.2% | 1963 | $2,600 | 58.1% | 89.3% | 6.5% |
| Playa Del Rey | 2.01 | 43.4 | 2.4% | 54.9% | 7.7% | 1971 | $2,862 | 73.5% | 99.1% | 6.7% |
| Beverly Hills | 2.29 | 48.7 | 5.4% | 51.5% | 13.4% | 1959 | $3,024 | 69.9% | 97.3% | 7.5% |
| Ladera Heights | 2.61 | 42.6 | 16.2% | 35.9% | 7.6% | 1962 | $2,950 | 57.3% | 95.2% | 5.7% |
| El Segundo | 2.27 | 40.1 | 8.0% | 57.5% | 6.8% | 1964 | $2,535 | 62.7% | 97.7% | 6.6% |
| West Hollywood | 1.57 | 42.0 | 2.8% | 76.0% | 13.0% | 1966 | $2,260 | 65.8% | 95.7% | 9.1% |
| View Park-Windsor Hills | 2.50 | 50.0 | 13.4% | 29.9% | 8.7% | 1947 | $2,429 | 61.5% | 97.1% | 7.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tracy, CA · Bryan, TX · Fishers, IN · Fort Smith, AR · Greenwood, IN · San Tan Valley, AZ · Holland, MI · Jackson, MI · Jacksonville, NC · Johnson City, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Santa Monica. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.