Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Las Vegas, NV
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 North Las Vegas leads 12 of 22 categories
North Las Vegas
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022 ✓ 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.
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $1315k less ($340,200 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($1,479 vs $2,227)
50% less violent crime than Santa Monica
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $35,023/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,023 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 106°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
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
50% lower
388.9 vs 778.0 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$1315k less
$340,200 vs $1,654,800
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
36.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$35,023
$106,797 vs $71,774/yr
Santa Monica
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Las Vegas, NV | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,479⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,774 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.8% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.9°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 4.3" ✓ Drier | 12.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,022 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.9 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 12 of 22 categories. North Las Vegas 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 North Las Vegas to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($71,774 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Las Vegas, NV and Santa Monica, CA are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.