Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ 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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $1435k less ($219,800 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $972/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,227)
68% less violent crime than Santa Monica
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $42,367/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,367 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 87°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
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Hampton
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
68% lower
247.6 vs 778.0 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$1435k less
$219,800 vs $1,654,800
Hampton
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$42,367
$106,797 vs $64,430/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 12 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 Hampton to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($64,430 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.