Santa Monica, CA

Census Place

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2024 Population
91,169
US Senator
Alex Padilla
Democratic Party
US Senator
Adam Schiff
Democratic Party
2024 Median Age
42.7
0.466% 1-year decrease
2024 Poverty Rate
11.2%
3.51% 1-year decrease
2024 Median Household Income
$114,885
4.69% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$1.76M
3.02% 1-year decline
2024 Employed Population
51,486
1.47% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Santa Monica, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

91.7% of the residents in Santa Monica, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Santa Monica, CA are Santa Monica College (8,808 degrees awarded in 2023), Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine (44 degrees), and Pardee RAND Graduate School (40 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Santa Monica, CA was $1.76M, and the homeownership rate was 27.9%.

Most people in Santa Monica, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Santa Monica, CA was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Santa Monica pier and beach
Photo by Ian D. Keating
United StatesCaliforniaLos Angeles County, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CALos Angeles County (Southwest)--Santa Monica City PUMA, CALos Angeles County (West Central)--LA City (West Los Angeles, Century City & Palms) PUMA, CALos Angeles County--Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Malibu & Westlake Village Cities PUMA, CALos Angeles County (West Central)--LA City (Central/Westwood & West Los Angeles) PUMA, CA

Population & Diversity

Santa Monica, CA is home to a population of 91.2k people, from which 91.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 23.2% of Santa Monica, CA residents were born outside of the country (21.2k people).

In 2024, there were 6.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (56.6k people) in Santa Monica, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 9.14k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 5.7k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

91.7%
2024 Citizenship
92.5%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 91.7% of Santa Monica, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Santa Monica, CA was 92.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Santa Monica, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Santa Monica, CA
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    56.6k ± 1.69k
  2. Asian (Non-Hispanic)
    9.14k ± 931
  3. Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
    5.7k ± 1.14k
15.3%
Hispanic Population
13.9k people

In 2024, there were 6.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (56.6k people) in Santa Monica, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 9.14k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 5.7k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

15.3% of the people in Santa Monica, CA are hispanic (13.9k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Santa Monica, CA as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.
Most Common Origin
  1. Mexico
    3,862,617 ± 45,816 people
  2. Philippines
    824,246 ± 22,054 people
  3. China
    687,951 ± 20,184 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,862,617 California residents, followed by Philippines with 824,246 and China with 687,951.

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Foreign-Born Population

23.2%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
21.2k people
23%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
21.1k people

As of 2024, 23.2% of Santa Monica, CA residents (21.2k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Santa Monica, CA was 23%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Santa Monica, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    600 ± 140
  2. Gulf War (2001-)
    455 ± 213
  3. Gulf War (1990s)
    394 ± 185

Santa Monica, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.32 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Santa Monica, CA.

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Economy

The economy of Santa Monica, CA employs 51.5k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Santa Monica, CA were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (10,818 people), Information (5,445 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (5,389 people), and the highest paying industries were Finance & Insurance ($193,652), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($149,167), and Manufacturing ($127,681).

Employment

Occupations

51.5k
2024 Value
± 2,164
1.47%
1 Year growth
± 5.74%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Santa Monica, CA grew at a rate of 1.47%, from 50.7k employees to 51.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Santa Monica, CA, are Management Occupations (10,850 people), Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media Occupations (6,181 people), and Business & Financial Operations Occupations (5,858 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Santa Monica, CA.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

51.5k
2024 Value
± 2,164
1.47%
1 Year growth
± 5.74%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Santa Monica, CA grew at a rate of 1.47%, from 50.7k employees to 51.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Santa Monica, CA, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (10,818 people), Information (5,445 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (5,389 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Santa Monica, CA, though some of these residents may live in Santa Monica, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$108,378
Median earning men ± $9,160
$80,837
Median earning women ± $4,789

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($202,115), Wholesale Trade ($180,898), and Public Administration ($165,909).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Manufacturing ($125,452), Information ($107,073), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($102,229).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.
Y-Axis
2.57%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 17.9M people employed in California. This represents a 2.57% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Santa Monica, CA. Showing the available data for California.
2024 Election Results
  1. Kamala Harris (58.5%)
    Democratic Party
  2. Donald J. Trump (38.3%)
    Republican Party
  3. Robert Kennedy (1.25%)
    Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.
Alex Padilla
Senator from California3
Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.
Adam Schiff
Senator from California1
Assumed office on December 8, 2024
Elected to the seat to succeed Laphonza Butler, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Santa Monica, CA awarded 8,892 degrees. The student population of Santa Monica, CA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 10,491 male students and 12,985 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Santa Monica, CA are Hispanic or Latino (3,502 and 42.7%), White (2,388 and 29.1%), Asian (890 and 10.8%), and Black or African American (539 and 6.57%).

The largest universities in Santa Monica, CA by number of degrees awarded are Santa Monica College (8,808 and 99.1%), Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine (44 and 0.495%), and Pardee RAND Graduate School (40 and 0.45%).

The most popular majors in Santa Monica, CA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (4,299 and 48.3%), Humanistic Studies (1,354 and 15.2%), and Biological & Physical Sciences (383 and 4.31%).

The median tuition cost for a public four year colleges is $1,104 for in-state students and $9,264 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 23,476 students enrolled in Santa Monica, CA, 44.7% men and 55.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 9,486 records, of which 58.3% were women and 41.7% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. Liberal Arts & Sciences
    1,606 degrees awarded
  2. Humanistic Studies
    1,354 degrees awarded
  3. Biological & Physical Sciences
    383 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Santa Monica, CA was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 1,606 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Santa Monica, CA according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. Santa Monica College
    8,808 degrees awarded
  2. Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine
    44 degrees awarded
  3. Pardee RAND Graduate School
    40 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Santa Monica College with 8,808 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

In 2023, 3,517 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Santa Monica, CA, which is 0.654 times less than the 5,375 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 3,502 degrees mean that there were 1.47 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 2,388 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 4-year or above ($1,104) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($52) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,746) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Santa Monica, CA was $1.76M in 2024, which is 5.28 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $1.81M to $1.76M, a 3.02% decrease. The homeownership rate in Santa Monica, CA is 27.9%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Santa Monica, CA have an average commute time of 24.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Santa Monica, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$1.76M
Median Property Value 2024
±$135,078
$13,190
Median Property Taxes
±$847

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Santa Monica, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Santa Monica, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

27.9%
Homeownership
2024
65.9%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 27.9% of the housing units in Santa Monica, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 28.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Santa Monica, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$114,885
Median Household Income
± $7,492
47.3k
Number of Households
± 2,105

In 2024, the median household income of the 47.3k households in Santa Monica, CA grew to $114,885 from the previous year's value of $109,739.

The following chart displays the households in Santa Monica, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Santa Monica, CA is from California.
0.495
2023 Wage GINI in California
0.498
2022 Wage GINI in California

In 2023, the income inequality in California was 0.495 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.573% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (47%)
  2. Worked At Home (38.4%)
  3. Walked (4.81%)

In 2024, 47% of workers in Santa Monica, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (38.4%) and those who walked to work (4.81%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

24.8 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Santa Monica, CA have a shorter commute time (24.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.821% of the workforce in Santa Monica, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Santa Monica, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Santa Monica, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Santa Monica, CA have 2 cars.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

11.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Santa Monica, CA (10.1k out of 90k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 55 - 64, followed by Females 75+ and then Females 65 - 74.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Santa Monica, CA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

96.5% of the population of Santa Monica, CA has health coverage, with 52.2% on employee plans, 13% on Medicaid, 12.9% on Medicare, 17.7% on non-group plans, and 0.633% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in California see 1,233 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,233 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1076 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 213 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.9% were men and 53.1% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 14.5% under 18 years, 23.5% between 18 and 34 years, 43.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.9% were men and 53.1% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

3.55%
Uninsured
52.2%
Employer Coverage
13%
Medicaid
12.9%
Medicare
17.7%
Non-Group
0.633%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Santa Monica, CA declined by 15% from 4.17% to 3.55%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Santa Monica, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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