Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Clovis
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1234k less ($420,700 vs $1,654,800)
69% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Rent averages $745/mo less ($1,482 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $8,243/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 98°F
Households earn $8,243 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Violent Crime
69% lower
244.6 vs 778.0 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$1234k less
$420,700 vs $1,654,800
Clovis
Summer Heat
28.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$8,243
$106,797 vs $98,554/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clovis wins 11 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Clovis to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($98,554 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.