Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Monica, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 15 of 23 categories
Santa Monica
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,168
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $27,712 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 77°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)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1240k less ($415,300 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $738/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,227)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $27,712/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Monica
Median Income
$27,712
$106,797 vs $79,085/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
27% lower
778.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$1240k less
$415,300 vs $1,654,800
Tacoma
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tacoma
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 76.8°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Monica, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,654,800⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,797 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 214⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 228⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 67.8% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 69.4°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,168 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.8% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Monica's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 15 of 23 categories. Santa Monica wins 15 and Tacoma 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 Santa Monica to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,654,800 vs $415,300 median home), income ($106,797 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Monica, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.