Santa Monica city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Monica city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 91,535. It ranks as the 88th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Monica city is 42.9 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 14.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Monica city is $109,739. This is 14% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,810,200. Housing costs are 160% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 16.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 28.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 48% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Monica city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (61.8% vs 34.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (16.4%) is well below the state average of 39.8%.

Education

68.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Santa Monica city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 89% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.8%. Notably, 29.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Monica city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.