Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Denton leads 14 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
9
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1359k less ($296,100 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $963/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,227)
74% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $34,876/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,876 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
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
Denton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
74% lower
204.2 vs 778.0 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$1359k less
$296,100 vs $1,654,800
Denton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
26.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$34,876
$106,797 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 14 of 23 categories. Denton wins 14 and Santa Monica wins 9. 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 Denton to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($71,921 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.