Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Santa Monica
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Homes cost $1163k less ($491,800 vs $1,654,800)
89% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,861 vs $2,227)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $8,918/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 85°F
Households earn $8,918 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Violent Crime
89% lower
85.0 vs 778.0 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$1163k less
$491,800 vs $1,654,800
Norwalk
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$8,918
$106,797 vs $97,879/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 92,168 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 11 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 Norwalk to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($97,879 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.