Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 13 of 21 categories
Mission Viejo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797
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.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $771k less ($883,600 vs $1,654,800)
87% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Households earn $29,773 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Rent averages $395/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,622)
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 80°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $29,773/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$29,773
$136,570 vs $106,797/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
87% lower
99.2 vs 778.0 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Median Home Value
$771k less
$883,600 vs $1,654,800
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Mission Viejo
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 79.5°F vs 69.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $106,797 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 42.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 18.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo'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, Mission Viejo leads 13 of 21 categories. Mission Viejo wins 13 and Santa Monica wins 8. 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 Mission Viejo to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($136,570 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 56 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.