Economy, jobs and prices in Santa Monica, California: official figures
The median household income in Santa Monica was $114,885 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 130th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.
What is the per capita income in Santa Monica?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Santa Monica averaged $94,641 a year in 2020-2024, 11th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.543 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 19th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Santa Monica, California?
6.7% of the civilian labor force in Santa Monica was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,684 people), 179th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Santa Monica have jobs?
51,486 residents of Santa Monica held civilian jobs, 64.6% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 33 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Santa Monica?
The largest industry group for working residents of Santa Monica was professional, scientific, management and administrative services (25.2% of employed residents), followed by education, health care and social assistance (19.3%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.6%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Santa Monica work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 5.2% of working residents of Santa Monica, 96th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 25.2% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Santa Monica, California?
Commuters in Santa Monica took 24.8 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 392nd longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 6.8% travelled an hour or more and 27.4% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Santa Monica get to work?
38.4% of workers living in Santa Monica worked from home in 2020-2024, 3rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 47.0% drove to work alone, 2.8% carpooled, 2.2% used public transport and 4.8% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Santa Monica, California?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Santa Monica was $2,402 a month in 2020-2024, 60th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Santa Monica?
Owner-occupied homes in Santa Monica had a median value of $1,755,500 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 7th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Santa Monica?
The median home value in Santa Monica was 15.3 times the median household income, the highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Santa Monica have no internet?
4.5% of households in Santa Monica (2,141) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 377th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 6.8% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Santa Monica compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 130 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 127 | Petaluma | $115,430 |
| 128 | Fountain Valley | $115,237 |
| 129 | Downers Grove | $115,114 |
| 130 | Santa Monica | $114,885 |
| 131 | Murrieta | $114,081 |
| 132 | Olathe | $114,009 |
| 133 | Eagle Mountain | $113,648 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 11 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Newton | $97,547 |
| 9 | Bellevue | $97,015 |
| 10 | Kirkland | $95,367 |
| 11 | Santa Monica | $94,641 |
| 12 | Edina | $93,210 |
| 13 | Redmond | $92,776 |
| 14 | San Francisco | $92,289 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 19 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Chapel Hill | 0.549 |
| 17 | Stillwater | 0.546 |
| 18 | Cincinnati | 0.543 |
| 19 | Santa Monica | 0.543 |
| 20 | Tampa | 0.543 |
| 21 | College Station | 0.542 |
| 22 | Evanston | 0.541 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 179 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 176 | Murrieta | 6.8% |
| 177 | Chico | 6.8% |
| 178 | Citrus Heights | 6.7% |
| 179 | Santa Monica | 6.7% |
| 180 | Lake Charles | 6.6% |
| 181 | Temple | 6.6% |
| 182 | Bloomington | 6.6% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 193 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 190 | San Ramon | 69.3% |
| 191 | Durham | 69.2% |
| 192 | Bristol | 69.2% |
| 193 | Santa Monica | 69.2% |
| 194 | Joliet | 69.2% |
| 195 | Greenville | 69.2% |
| 196 | Plano | 69.2% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 392 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 389 | Jupiter | 24.9 |
| 390 | Round Rock | 24.9 |
| 391 | Denver | 24.9 |
| 392 | Santa Monica | 24.8 |
| 393 | Greenwood | 24.8 |
| 394 | Euless | 24.8 |
| 395 | Tampa | 24.8 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 3 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sammamish | 38.8% |
| 2 | Redmond | 38.4% |
| 3 | Santa Monica | 38.4% |
| 4 | Frisco | 37.8% |
| 5 | Johns Creek | 37.8% |
| 6 | Berkeley | 37.1% |
| 7 | Alpharetta | 36.7% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 234 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 231 | Danbury | 2.3% |
| 232 | Erie | 2.3% |
| 233 | Lynchburg | 2.2% |
| 234 | Santa Monica | 2.2% |
| 235 | Milpitas | 2.2% |
| 236 | Lafayette | 2.2% |
| 237 | Chula Vista | 2.2% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 728 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 725 | Redlands | 5.2% |
| 726 | Brookhaven | 5.2% |
| 727 | Henderson | 5.2% |
| 728 | Santa Monica | 5.2% |
| 729 | Sarasota | 5.2% |
| 730 | Ocala | 5.2% |
| 731 | Smyrna | 5.1% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 708 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 705 | San Bernardino | 19.4% |
| 706 | Buckeye | 19.4% |
| 707 | Fulshear | 19.3% |
| 708 | Santa Monica | 19.3% |
| 709 | Renton | 19.2% |
| 710 | Garden Grove | 19.2% |
| 711 | Tracy | 19.2% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 60 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Palm Beach Gardens | $2,417 |
| 58 | Santa Barbara | $2,413 |
| 59 | Redmond | $2,409 |
| 60 | Santa Monica | $2,402 |
| 61 | Kirkland | $2,401 |
| 62 | Hayward | $2,391 |
| 63 | Murrieta | $2,388 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 7 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mountain View | $1,927,000 |
| 5 | Sunnyvale | $1,801,800 |
| 6 | Redwood City | $1,801,700 |
| 7 | Santa Monica | $1,755,500 |
| 8 | Encinitas | $1,646,800 |
| 9 | San Mateo | $1,618,700 |
| 10 | Santa Clara | $1,582,600 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 1 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Monica | 15.3x |
| 2 | Santa Barbara | 14.8x |
| 3 | Berkeley | 13.1x |
| 4 | Arcadia | 12.7x |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | 12.7x |
| 6 | Glendale | 12.5x |
| 7 | Boulder | 11.9x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 813 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 810 | New Haven | 28.4% |
| 811 | Lawrence | 28.1% |
| 812 | Jersey City | 27.9% |
| 813 | Santa Monica | 27.9% |
| 814 | Hawthorne | 27.2% |
| 815 | Paterson | 26.9% |
| 816 | Hartford | 25.7% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 274 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | Merced | 94.1% |
| 272 | Skokie | 94.1% |
| 273 | Greenwood | 94.1% |
| 274 | Santa Monica | 94.1% |
| 275 | Thousand Oaks | 94.1% |
| 276 | Alexandria | 94.1% |
| 277 | Hesperia | 94.1% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Santa Monica ranks 447 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 444 | Arlington | 4.5% |
| 445 | Blue Springs | 4.5% |
| 446 | Mesa | 4.5% |
| 447 | Santa Monica | 4.5% |
| 448 | Lake Elsinore | 4.5% |
| 449 | Alhambra | 4.5% |
| 450 | Charlotte | 4.5% |
More on Santa Monica: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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