Population
Santa Barbara
88,024
Santa Monica
91,535
Median Income
Santa Barbara
$101,672
Santa Monica
$109,739
Home Value
Santa Barbara
$1,466,400
Santa Monica
$1,810,200
Rent
Santa Barbara
$2,302
Santa Monica
$2,338
Crime Rate
Santa Barbara
6.50
Santa Monica
7.82
Cost of Living
Santa Barbara
235.7
Santa Monica
241.2
Avg Temp
Santa Barbara
N/A
Santa Monica
N/A
Unemployment
Santa Barbara
4.7%
Santa Monica
6.1%
How Similar Are Santa Barbara & Santa Monica?
Santa Monica is Santa Barbara's #4 most similar city
5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
Santa Barbara
88,024
Santa Monica
91,535
Both cities have similar populations — Santa Barbara at 88,024 and Santa Monica at 91,535.
Violent Crime
Santa Barbara
6.50
Santa Monica
7.82
Santa Monica has a 17% higher violent crime than Santa Barbara.
Property Crime
Santa Barbara
18.10
Santa Monica
47.90
Santa Monica's property crime is significantly higher than Santa Barbara's — 62% difference.
Political Leaning
Santa Barbara
35.1%
Santa Monica
31.9%
Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 9% difference.
Unemployment
Santa Barbara
4.7%
Santa Monica
6.1%
Santa Monica has a 23% higher unemployment than Santa Barbara.
Median Income
Santa Barbara
$101,672
Santa Monica
$109,739
Both cities have similar median income — just a 7% difference.
Home Values
Santa Barbara
$1,466,400
Santa Monica
$1,810,200
Santa Monica has a 19% higher home values than Santa Barbara.
Education
Santa Barbara
36.2%
Santa Monica
55.4%
Santa Monica has a 35% higher education than Santa Barbara.
Demographics
Santa Barbara
63.3%
Santa Monica
66.9%
Both cities have similar demographics — just a 5% difference.
Cost of Living
Santa Barbara
235.7
Santa Monica
241.2
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.
5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Santa Barbara and Santa Monica share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
Santa Barbara
0
Santa Monica
Santa Barbara leads in 3 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Santa Barbara leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDSanta Monica has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,085 vs $2,746 in Santa Barbara (32% lower). Santa Monica has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,601 vs $3,124 in Santa Barbara (20% lower). Santa Barbara scores 155.4 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 167.8 in Santa Monica.
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Santa Barbara leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Barbara has a single-family homes of 55.3% compared to 22.6% in Santa Monica. Santa Barbara has a vacancy rate of 6.1% compared to 11.3% in Santa Monica. Santa Barbara has a owner-occupied of 39.8% compared to 28.8% in Santa Monica.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — Santa Monica leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Monica has a work from home of 33.1% compared to 17.0% in Santa Barbara. Santa Monica has a per capita income of $90,657 vs $62,921 in Santa Barbara (31% higher). Santa Barbara has a unemployment rate of 4.7% compared to 6.1% in Santa Monica.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Santa Barbara leads
Source: FBI UCRSanta Barbara has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.00 compared to 0.04 in Santa Monica. Santa Barbara has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 1.70 compared to 8.49 in Santa Monica. Santa Barbara has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.75 compared to 2.02 in Santa Monica.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education — Santa Monica leads
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauSanta Monica has a bachelor's degree or higher of 55.4% compared to 36.2% in Santa Barbara. Santa Monica has a high school diploma or higher of 62.3% compared to 44.7% in Santa Barbara.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Monica has a population of 91,535, about 1x the size of Santa Barbara (88,024). Santa Barbara skews younger with a median age of 39.4 vs 42.9.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Santa Barbara
Santa Monica
Healthcare
Source: CMS Hospital CompareSanta Barbara: 5.0 vs Santa Monica: 3.8 for avg cms rating (out of 5). Santa Monica: 5 vs Santa Barbara: 4 for with emergency services.
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Monica has a work from home of 33.1% compared to 17.0% in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara has a drive alone of 61.3% compared to 50.6% in Santa Monica. Santa Barbara has a bicycle of 3.2% compared to 2.7% in Santa Monica.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to Santa Barbara, CA
Compare Santa Barbara against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.