Living in Santa Monica, CA: Neighborhood Guide

Welcome to Santa Monica

Boardwalk sunsets, beachfront brunches, and early morning beach strolls make up this oceanside oasis.

Santa Monica is a walking haven in California brimming with outdoor adventures, luxurious health spas, and opportunities to unwind under clear blue skies and awe-inspiring sunsets. Beautiful people, crowded beaches, chic stores, and amazing restaurants can all be found in Santa Monica. Its clean streets, pleasant weather, open-air shopping centers, and easily accessible seashore combine with its busy pier, complete with amusement park attractions and a solar-powered Ferris wheel, to create a worldwide beach destination.

To the south and west, Santa Monica is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica State Beach, while the sprawling city of Los Angeles flanks its north, east, and northeast sides. Its strategic location is why Santa Monica is a popular area for the entertainment industry’s top actors and actresses. This stunning locale has all the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles but the laid-back vibe of a classic California beach town.

What to Love

Walkable to great restaurants and shops
Excellent schools
Beautiful beaches and gorgeous sunsets
Sustainable living
Amazing weather year-round

Local Lifestyle

Santa Monica exudes an easygoing ambiance because of its prime location along the Pacific coast. The tranquil, opulent neighborhood is a favorite of many due to its charm and lots of available activities. People here are quite forward-thinking and love to spend time outdoors, whether surfing, hiking, or simply strolling through town on a Sunday evening. This beach town is full of interesting people from all walks of life, from young families to professionals and retirees.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

From Santa Monica Place along Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica to the one-of-a-kind stores on Main Street and Montana Avenue, Santa Monica is a shopper's paradise. Located east of the pier, the three blocks that make up the 3rd Street Promenade are anchored by Santa Monica Place, an upmarket shopping center with more than eighty stores. It's a shopper's paradise, replete with everything from gourmet groceries to high-end clothing labels. Wilshire Boulevard, Montana Avenue, and Main Street are where you'll find many of Santa Monica's most interesting boutiques. You can get unique clothing, accessories, home decor, and upmarket gifts in the many shops that line these streets.

There are spectacular restaurants and entertainment venues in Santa Monica. You can never go wrong with a flavorful lunch or dinner at Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery. Dozens of patrons wait in line for the eatery’s artisan sandwiches, which feature a wide range of selected meats and freshly baked bread.

Melisse Restaurant has been a fixture in Santa Monica for almost 20 years, and it’s easy to see why. Once seated in the cozy dining room, diners can look forward to approximately ten mouthwatering courses, excellent service, and, most importantly, food that exceeds all expectations.

Huckleberry Cafe is wonderful for sweet delights and morning meals, while Milo & Olive is the place to go for delicious baked products and woodfired pizza.

If those options aren’t enough, consider visiting Pasjoli, Rustic Canyon, Cassia, Cobi's, Citrin Restaurant, Crudo e Nudo, and Sunny Blue. These restaurants only add to Santa Monica’s rich and vibrant culinary scene.

Things to Do

Santa Monica is the place to be if you enjoy spending time outside and value gorgeous scenery. Palisades Park offers spectacular views of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica State Beach, which stretches the length of Santa Monica, is always bustling with activity and exudes a spirit of summer celebration. The largest crowds congregate near the world-famous Santa Monica Pier, the area’s primary draw. This pier provides a wealth of activities, including shopping, dining, and more.

Tongva Park includes walking trails, a playground, meadows, waterfalls, and a lookout with stunning views of the Pacific.

If you love music, make sure to stop by McCabe's Guitar Shop. This well-known guitar shop hosts small performances in the store's rear room. Even if you don't plan on attending a show, a trip there is well worth it just to admire the hundreds of stunning guitars that line the walls.

Experience stunning scenery and enjoy a good workout as you climb the Santa Monica Stairs or La Mesa Secret Stairs, both of which offer a plethora of hiking activities for fitness enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Schools

Santa Monica falls under the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Top schools in this community include:

Santa Monica Alternative School, Grades K-8
Canyon Elementary School, Grades K-5
Lincoln Middle School, Grades 6-8
Santa Monica High School, Grades 9-12

Property Listings

Price

Living Area

Pending

MLS® 23-298455

Around SANTA MONICA, CA

There's plenty to do around SANTA MONICA, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

83

Very Walkable

Walking Score

97

Biker's Paradise

Bike Score

70

Excellent Transit

Transit Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including Los Jambados, Altha, and Monica Loren transformation & relationship coaching.

Name	Category	Distance	Reviews	Ratings by Yelp
Visit the Los Jambados page on Yelp	Dining	3.68 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Altha page on Yelp Search 13900 Marquesas Way on Google Maps	Active	3.63 miles	15 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Monica Loren transformation & relationship coac... page on Yelp	Active	3.82 miles	21 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Lisa G Fitness page on Yelp	Active	0.84 miles	9 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Reed Chiropractic + Wellness Center page on Yelp Search 4210 Del Rey Ave on Google Maps	Active	3.3 miles	18 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Craniosacral Clarity page on Yelp Search 13050 San Vicente Blvd on Google Maps	Active	1.83 miles	22 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the The Resolute Mind page on Yelp	Active	3.01 miles	6 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Nik's Skin Los Angeles page on Yelp Search 1111 Montana Ave on Google Maps	Beauty	1.06 miles	6 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Sense of Skin by Susan page on Yelp	Beauty	4.96 miles	10 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the EC Beauty page on Yelp Search 11708 Washington Pl on Google Maps	Beauty	3.7 miles	11 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Rain For Wellness page on Yelp Search 12121 Wilshire Blvd on Google Maps	Beauty	1.64 miles	37 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Lulylash page on Yelp Search 729 Montana Ave on Google Maps	Beauty	1.16 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for SANTA MONICA, CA

Population Households Employment

SANTA MONICA has 46,719 households, with an average household size of 2. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in SANTA MONICA do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 92,945 people call SANTA MONICA home. The population density is 14,587.013 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

92,945

Total Population

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

43

Median Age

49.4 / 50.6%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade
High School Degree
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Degree

46,719

Total Households

2

Average Household Size

$82,680

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married

Single

Divorced

Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes

15 to 29 Minutes

30 to 59 Minutes

60+ Minutes

Schools in SANTA MONICA, CA

All ()

Primary Schools ()

Middle Schools ()

High Schools ()

Mixed Schools ()

The following schools are within or nearby SANTA MONICA. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Type

Name

SANTA MONICA

Welcome to Santa Monica

What to Love

Local Lifestyle

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Things to Do

Schools

Property Listings

$21,500,000

$19,995,000

$18,450,000

$15,500,000

$14,995,000

$11,950,000

$10,995,000

$9,999,000

$9,500,000

$8,500,000

$8,500,000

$8,450,000

Around SANTA MONICA, CA

83

Very Walkable

97

Biker's Paradise

70

Excellent Transit

Points of Interest

Demographics and Employment Data for SANTA MONICA, CA

92,945

High

43

49.4 / 50.6%

46,719

2

$82,680

Schools in SANTA MONICA, CA

Overview for SANTA MONICA, CA

92,945

43 years

High

$82,680

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