Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Monica, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories
Santa Monica
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,485 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 107°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.2%)
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 22% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1468k less ($186,500 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1199/mo less ($1,028 vs $2,227)
46% less violent crime than Santa Monica
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $47,485/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Monica
Median Income
$47,485
$106,797 vs $59,312/yr
Santa Monica
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
46% lower
423.6 vs 778.0 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$1468k less
$186,500 vs $1,654,800
Yuma
Summer Heat
37.3°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Monica, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,654,800⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,797 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 214⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 228⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 67.8% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 69.4°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,168 | 96,314 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.1 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Monica's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories. Santa Monica wins 9 and Yuma wins 13. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,654,800 vs $186,500 median home), income ($106,797 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Monica, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.