90403 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
90401
90403
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 35%
vs48 · Bottom 36%
Growth
45 · Bottom 41%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
100 · Top 4%
vs100 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
10 · Bottom 4%
vs10 · Bottom 4%
Housing affordability
35 · Bottom 4%
vs41 · Bottom 6%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 37%
vs61 · Top 48%
Measured values
| Metric | 90401 | 90403 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,101 | 23,867 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $110,385 | $121,925 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $104,754 | $96,523 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 10,730/sq mi | 16,903/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,149,200 | $1,548,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,477 | $2,463 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 5.2% | 26.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.3% | 75.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 11.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 457 | 457 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.0 | 5.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 35.6% | 35.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 75°F | 75°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 49°F | 49°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 13.4" | 13.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 29.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.9 | 44.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
90401
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
90403
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Full profiles: 90401 — Santa Monica, CA · 90403 — Santa Monica, CA · How this is calculated: methodology