Random thought, I grew up here but left for a while. Homes are going for about $1,810,200 on average. It's a a smaller city city with about 91,535 people. Median household income is $109,739, which feels pretty solid for the area. You can expect to pay around $2,338 for rent here. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Is this normal for Santa Monica? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The city has invested a lot in new development. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
9 upvotes
4 Replies
Ruby Roberts
accurate
40 upvotes
Jayden Roberts
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 25, moved here 3 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in East and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Can feel isolated
3. The cultural scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- West: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Chicago, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
34 upvotes
Victoria Wood
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Fairview. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Reagan Patel
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great seafood places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
All Countries
