Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 11 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Santa Monica
California
8
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.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1372k less ($283,300 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,227)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.1%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $37,973/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,973 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 88°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
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$1372k less
$283,300 vs $1,654,800
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$37,973
$106,797 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 92,168 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 42.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 11 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 11 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 Palm Coast to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($68,824 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.