Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 14 of 23 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
14
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.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $1457k less ($197,700 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1287/mo less ($940 vs $2,227)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $54,003/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,003 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Pueblo
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°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
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Pueblo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$1457k less
$197,700 vs $1,654,800
Pueblo
Summer Heat
23.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$54,003
$106,797 vs $52,794/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
45% lower
778.0 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 214⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 228⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 14 of 23 categories. Pueblo wins 9 and Santa Monica wins 14. 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 Pueblo to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($52,794 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Santa Monica, CA are about 828 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.