Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Monica, CA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 13 of 23 categories
Santa Monica
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,168
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,830 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Shreveport
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Shreveport
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $1486k less ($168,900 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1282/mo less ($945 vs $2,227)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $60,830/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Monica
Median Income
$60,830
$106,797 vs $45,967/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
37% lower
778.0 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Santa Monica
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$1486k less
$168,900 vs $1,654,800
Shreveport
Summer Heat
24.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Monica, CA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,654,800⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,797 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 214⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 228⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 67.8% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 69.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,168 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.1 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.8% ✓ More | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Monica's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 13 of 23 categories. Santa Monica wins 13 and Shreveport 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 Santa Monica to Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,654,800 vs $168,900 median home), income ($106,797 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Monica, CA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.