Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 13 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $1444k less ($210,800 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1044/mo less ($1,183 vs $2,227)
71% less violent crime than Santa Monica
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $24,250/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,250 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Broken Arrow
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
71% lower
223.1 vs 778.0 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$1444k less
$210,800 vs $1,654,800
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
24.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$24,250
$106,797 vs $82,547/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 13 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 13 and Santa Monica wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Broken Arrow to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($82,547 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.