Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 12 of 21 categories
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1286k less ($368,800 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,227)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $35,430/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.2%)
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,430 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 98°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$1286k less
$368,800 vs $1,654,800
Lancaster
Summer Heat
28.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 69.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Monica
Median Income
$35,430
$106,797 vs $71,367/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
7% lower
778.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Santa Monica
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 12.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 12 of 21 categories. Lancaster wins 9 and Santa Monica wins 12. 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 Lancaster to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($71,367 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 51 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.