Santa Monica, CA

Census Place

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2021 Population

92,828

1.34% 1-year growth

US Senator

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Party

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

41.4

2.22% 1-year increase

2021 Poverty Rate

10.6%

4.32% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$99,847

1.57% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$1.48M

2.23% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

51,158

0.391% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Santa Monica, CA had a population of 92.8k people with a median age of 41.4 and a median household income of $99,847. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Santa Monica, CA grew from 91,600 to 92,828, a 1.34% increase and its median household income grew from $98,300 to $99,847, a 1.57% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Santa Monica, CA are White (Non-Hispanic) (62.7%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (9.1%), White (Hispanic) (8.12%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (6.09%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (4.49%).

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.

91.6% of the residents in Santa Monica, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Santa Monica, CA are Santa Monica College (8,388 degrees awarded in 2021), International School of Cosmetology (116350) (71 degrees), and Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine (69 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Santa Monica, CA was $1.48M, and the homeownership rate was 28.5%.

Most people in Santa Monica, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 26 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 States California Los Angeles County, CA Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Santa Monica City PUMA, CA

Population & Diversity

Santa Monica, CA is home to a population of 92.8k people, from which 91.6% are citizens. As of 2021, 23.1% of Santa Monica, CA residents were born outside of the country (21.5k people).

In 2021, there were 6.89 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (58.2k people) in Santa Monica, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 8.45k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 7.53k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

91.6%

2021 Citizenship

91.4%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 91.6% of Santa Monica, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Santa Monica, CA was 91.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Santa Monica, CA

White (Non-Hispanic)
58.2k ± 1.64k
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
8.45k ± 977
White (Hispanic)
7.53k ± 964

16.6%

Hispanic Population

15.4k people

16.6% of the people in Santa Monica, CA are hispanic (15.4k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Santa Monica, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,959,545 ± 46,338 people
Philippines
828,655 ± 22,113 people
China
680,942 ± 20,084 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,959,545 California residents, followed by Philippines with 828,655 and China with 680,942.

Foreign-Born Population

23.1%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

21.5k people

22.6%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

20.7k people

As of 2021, 23.1% of Santa Monica, CA residents (21.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Santa Monica, CA was 22.6%, 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.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
613 ± 170
Gulf War (2001-)
375 ± 186
Gulf War (1990s)
273 ± 112

Santa Monica, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.63 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Santa Monica, CA employs 51.2k people. The largest industries in Santa Monica, CA are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (10,738 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (5,736 people), and Information (5,597 people), and the highest paying industries are Finance & Insurance ($149,719), Utilities ($140,905), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($111,188).

Males in California have an average income that is 1.26 times higher than the average income of females, which is $69,050. The income inequality in California (measured using the Gini index) is 0.497, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

51.2k

2021 Value

± 1,909

0.391%

1 Year growth

± 5.27%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Santa Monica, CA grew at a rate of 0.391%, from 51k employees to 51.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Santa Monica, CA, are Management Occupations (9,857 people), Business & Financial Operations Occupations (5,779 people), and Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media Occupations (5,272 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Santa Monica, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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

51.2k

2021 Value

± 1,909

0.391%

1 Year growth

± 5.27%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Santa Monica, CA grew at a rate of 0.391%, from 51k employees to 51.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Santa Monica, CA, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (10,738 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (5,736 people), and Information (5,597 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.

Median Earnings by Industry

$88,370

Median earning men ± $6,237

$65,644

Median earning women ± $2,580

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($147,806), Information ($120,250), and Manufacturing ($109,191).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Manufacturing ($102,281), Information ($97,418), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($91,179).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in California. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

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

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound California product (by dollars) was Electronics with $405B, followed by Mixed freight ($159B) and Pharmaceuticals ($155B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound California products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for California.

$2.21T

2020 Value in California

$4.61T

Projected 2050 Value in California

109% growth

In 2020, total outbound California trade was $2.21T. This is expected to increase 109% to $4.61T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound California trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Most Common Trade Partners

Texas
$84.4B
Arizona
$44.8B
Ohio
$40.6B

In 2020, the top outbound California domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Texas with $84.4B, followed by Arizona with $44.8B and Ohio and $40.6B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that California shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 63.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.07%).

Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla 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

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Santa Monica, CA. Showing the available data for California.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (63.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (34.3%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.07%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 63.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.07%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Dianne Feinstein

Senator from California

Assumed office on November 10, 1992
Elected to the seat to succeed John Seymour (California politician)|John Seymour, who had been appointed to the seat after Pete Wilson was elected Governor of California.

Alex Padilla

Senator from California

Assumed office on January 18, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.

Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla 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.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from California

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for California have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Santa Monica, CA awarded 8,553 degrees. The student population of Santa Monica, CA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 10,217 male students and 13,679 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Santa Monica, CA are Hispanic or Latino (3,273 and 42.5%), followed by White (2,182 and 28.4%), Asian (885 and 11.5%), and Black or African American (518 and 6.73%).

The largest universities in Santa Monica, CA by number of degrees awarded are Santa Monica College (8,388 and 98.1%), International School of Cosmetology (116350) (71 and 0.83%), and Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine (69 and 0.807%).

The most popular majors in Santa Monica, CA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (4,473 and 52.3%), Humanistic Studies (515 and 6.02%), and Biological & Physical Sciences (405 and 4.74%).

The median tuition cost in Santa Monica, CA for a public four year colleges is $1,104 for in-state students and $9,048 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2021 there were 23,896 students enrolled in Santa Monica, CA, 42.8% men and 57.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 9,860 records, of which 59.5% were women and 40.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Humanistic Studies
515 degree-majors awarded
Biological & Physical Sciences
405 degree-majors awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
977 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Santa Monica, CA was Humanistic Studies with 515 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Santa Monica College
8,388 degrees awarded
International School of Cosmetology (116350)
71 degrees awarded
Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine
69 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Santa Monica College with 8,388 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2021, 3,173 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Santa Monica, CA, which is 0.59 times less than the 5,380 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 3,273 degrees mean that there were 1.5 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 2,182 degrees awarded.

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.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 4-year or above ($1,104) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($42) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

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.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2021, 1.89% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 2.12% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were Some college (7.01M), High School or Equivalent (6.74M), and Bachelors Degree (6.25M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Santa Monica, CA was $1.48M in 2021, which is 6.06 times larger than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $1.45M to $1.48M, a 2.23% increase. The homeownership rate in Santa Monica, CA is 28.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Santa Monica, CA have an average commute time of 26 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.

Median household income in Santa Monica, CA is $99,847. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in Santa Monica, CA was Census Tract 7012.01 with a value of $190,750, followed by Census Tract 7012.02 and Census Tract 7016.01, with respective values of $146,563 and $141,174.

Housing

Property

$1.48M

Median Property Value 2021

±$97,360

$13,320

Median Property Taxes

±$786

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.

Rent vs Own

28.5%

Homeownership

2021

67.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 28.5% of the housing units in Santa Monica, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 27.9%.

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

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 7012.01
Census Tract 7012.02
Census Tract 7016.01

In 2021, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Santa Monica, CA was Census Tract 7012.01 with a value of $190,750, followed by Census Tract 7012.02 and Census Tract 7016.01, with respective values of $146,563 and $141,174.

The following map shows all of the places in Santa Monica, CA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$99,847

Median Household Income

± $7,181

46.7k

Number of Households

± 1,845

In 2021, the median household income of the 46.7k households in Santa Monica, CA grew to $99,847 from the previous year's value of $98,300.

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.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Santa Monica, CA is from California.

0.497

2021 Wage GINI in California

0.498

2020 Wage GINI in California

In 2021, the income inequality in California was 0.497 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.12% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (58.7%)
Worked At Home (22.4%)
Walked (5.95%)

In 2021, 58.7% of workers in Santa Monica, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (22.4%) and those who walked to work (5.95%).

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.

Commute Time

26 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Santa Monica, CA have a shorter commute time (26 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.43% 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.

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.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

10.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Santa Monica, CA (9.72k out of 92k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 75+, followed by Males 55 - 64 and then Females 25 - 34.

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

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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

95.2% of the population of Santa Monica, CA has health coverage, with 52.7% on employee plans, 10.6% on Medicaid, 12.3% on Medicare, 19% on non-group plans, and 0.645% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Los Angeles County, CA see 1354 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.66% decrease from the previous year (1363 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1097 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 245 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Los Angeles County, CA.

1,354 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Los Angeles County, CA

Primary care physicians in Los Angeles County, CA see an average of 1,354 patients per year. This represents a 0.66% decrease from the previous year (1,363 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Los Angeles County, CA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 15.6% under 18 years, 24.4% between 18 and 34 years, 42.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

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

Uninsured People

4.77%

Uninsured

52.7%

Employer Coverage

10.6%

Medicaid

12.3%

Medicare

19%

Non-Group

0.645%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Santa Monica, CA declined by 2.11% from 4.87% to 4.77%.

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.