Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 High Point leads 12 of 22 categories
High Point
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120 ✓ 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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $1458k less ($196,500 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1197/mo less ($1,030 vs $2,227)
42% less violent crime than Santa Monica
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $48,215/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,215 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 52°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 23% higher than High Point
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Violent Crime
42% lower
454.8 vs 778.0 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$1458k less
$196,500 vs $1,654,800
High Point
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$48,215
$106,797 vs $58,582/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
High Point is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, High Point leads 12 of 22 categories. High Point wins 12 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 High Point to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($58,582 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.