90401 and 90404 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
90401
90404
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 35%
vs45 · Bottom 29%
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%
vs32 · Bottom 2%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 37%
vs52 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | 90401 | 90404 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,101 | 22,978 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $110,385 | $95,139 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $104,754 | $64,223 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 10,730/sq mi | 11,658/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,149,200 | $1,244,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,477 | $2,239 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 5.2% | 21.4% | 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% | 61.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 14.9% | 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 | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 23.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.9 | 40.5 | 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.
90404
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Full profiles: 90401 — Santa Monica, CA · 90404 — Santa Monica, CA · How this is calculated: methodology