Santa Monica is a city located in Los Angeles County California. Santa Monica has a 2024 population of 88,925. Santa Monica is currently declining at a rate of -1.11% annually and its population has decreased by -4.29% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 92,913 in 2020.
The average household income in Santa Monica is $176,289 with a poverty rate of 11.61%. The median age in Santa Monica is 42.9 years: 42 years for males, and 43.9 years for females.
Santa Monica is a city located in the state of California. It is located in Los Angeles County and is located on the Santa Monica Bay. This city is most known for its beautiful beaches and attractions, including the Santa Monica Pier. It is because of this that Santa Monica is a top resort city in the United States.
Santa Monica’s top employer is the City of Santa Monica, which employs over 2,500 people. Santa Monica – UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica College, Saint John’s Health Center and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District are also top employers in the area. Santa Monica is also the site for many game development studios, including Activision Blizzard.
Santa Monica’s population in its earliest years reflected significant growth. This growth slowed in 1940 after topping 50,000. In the 1980s, growth halted before declining during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, the last census in 2010 showed that the population was once again on the rise. Current estimates show that the community is up over 3% since the previous census, indicating that this city is well on its way to hitting 100,000 residents.
The original inhabitants of what is now Santa Monica were the Tongva people. At the time, the region was known as Kecheek. The first explorer in the region was Gaspar de Portola who arrived in the area in 1769. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, the U.S. government took sovereignty over the state of California and with it, Santa Monica. This occurred in 1848.
Santa Monica started growing during the 1870s with the arrival of the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad that linked the city with Los Angeles. In 1873 a town hall was constructed, and in 1885, Santa Monica had its first hotel.
Growth continued through the 20th century as the Pacific Electric Railroad was connected to the city, also attracting more visitors to the local beaches and the Santa Monica Pier. In the early 20th century, a community of Asian Americans populated the city, living primarily in a fishing village set up near Long Wharf.
During the 1920s, industrialization came to the city. A plant for the Douglas Aircraft Company was constructed and continued business in Santa Monica through the 1960s. However, it was shortly after that the city was hit with economic troubles due to the Great Depression. A report showed that just 1,000 people were employed, while many business owners went bankrupt. However, in the years that followed, the city bounced back.
During World War II, Douglas Aircraft employed tens of thousands of people and led to the establishment of the RAND Corporation. The city continued to grow post-war with the construction of the Santa Monica Freeway. In the 1980s, the city experienced a population boom with the revitalization of its downtown area and job growth. Today, the city remains a popular tourist destination, boasting hotels, shopping centers, museums, music venues, a renovated downtown area, and events like the Santa Monica Film Festival.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Santa Monica was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 61,206 | 66.87% |
| Two or more races | 12,091 | 13.21% |
| Asian | 8,925 | 9.75% |
| Black or African American | 4,452 | 4.86% |
| Other race | 4,289 | 4.69% |
| Native American | 523 | 0.57% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 49 | 0.05% |
White
Two or more races
Asian
Black or African American
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 46,457 | 1.92 | 28.8 | 71.2 |
| Non Family | 26,730 | 1.23 | 18.3 | 81.7 |
| Married | 14,715 | 2.89 | 47.5 | 52.5 |
| Female | 3,404 | 2.86 | 28.3 | 71.7 |
| Male | 1,608 | 2.7 | 32.2 | 67.8 |
2.82
Average Family Size
1.92
Average Household Size
28.8%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 1,672 | 2.27% |
| Associates Degree | 4,400 | 5.97% |
| Bachelors Degree | 29,058 | 39.45% |
| Graduate Degree | 21,683 | 29.44% |
| High School Graduate | 6,291 | 8.54% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 2,188 | 2.97% |
| Some College | 8,359 | 11.35% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 48,353 | 47,200 | 35,646 |
| Hispanic | 10,694 | 8,644 | 5,084 |
| Asian | 7,417 | 7,179 | 5,831 |
| 2+ Races | 7,170 | 6,520 | 4,398 |
| Other Race | 3,339 | 2,721 | 1,571 |
| Black | 3,278 | 2,963 | 1,469 |
| Native American | 466 | 277 | 162 |
| Islander | 49 | 49 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 78.62%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $97,014 | $109,344 | $86,180 |
| Graduate Degree | $112,139 | $140,961 | $96,430 |
| High School Graduate | $41,285 | $51,642 | $39,375 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $34,260 | $45,852 | $30,025 |
| Overall | $88,891 | $101,478 | $77,777 |
| Some College | $47,205 | $45,968 | $48,780 |
$88,891
Average Earnings
$101,478
Average Male
$77,777
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
72.14% of Santa Monica residents speak only English, while 27.86% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 10.92% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 56,011 | 6,547 | 11.69% |
| Hispanic | 14,892 | 1,419 | 9.53% |
| Multiple | 12,068 | 1,000 | 8.29% |
| Black | 4,222 | 971 | 23% |
| Asian | 8,816 | 911 | 10.33% |
| Other | 4,179 | 475 | 11.37% |
| Native | 511 | 113 | 22.11% |
11.61%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.41%
Male Poverty Rate
11.79%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Santa Monica is Black, with 23% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Santa Monica is Multiple, with 8.29% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.21%. Among those working part-time, it was 11.27%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 30.66%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 25.17% |
| Some College | 20.22% |
| High School | 19.74% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 8.26% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 25.75% |
| Male Unemployed | 23.27% |
| Female Employed | 3.79% |
| Male Employed | 3.33% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $154,272 | $241,830 |
| Households | $109,739 | $176,289 |
| Married Families | $197,688 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $83,459 | $125,380 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
39.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
42.3%
Male Marriage Rate
37.2%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
2,040
Number of Veterans
1,875
Male Veterans
165
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 563 |
| First Gulf War | 468 |
| Second Gulf War | 333 |
| Korea | 105 |
| World War II | 85 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 75+ | 745 |
| 35 to 54 | 454 |
| 55 to 64 | 332 |
| 65 to 74 | 305 |
| 18 to 34 | 204 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,422 | 2.6% |
| Hispanic | 476 | 3.9% |
| 2+ Races | 260 | 3.17% |
| Black | 166 | 4.62% |
| Native American | 79 | 15.64% |
| Other Race | 69 | 1.81% |
| Asian | 44 | 0.57% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
10.65%
Veteran Poverty Rate
27.12%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
67.7%
Labor Force Participation
63.5%
Employment Rate
6.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
39.13%
Born in Santa Monica
76.83%
Native Born
23.17%
Foreign Born
7.48%
Non Citizen
15.69%
Naturalized
76.83% of Santa Monica residents were born in the United States, with 39.13% having been born in California. 7.48% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 83,940 | -997 | -1.17% |
| 2028 | 84,937 | -997 | -1.16% |
| 2027 | 85,934 | -997 | -1.15% |
| 2026 | 86,931 | -997 | -1.13% |
| 2025 | 87,928 | -997 | -1.12% |
| 2024 | 88,925 | -997 | -1.11% |
| 2023 | 89,922 | -294 | -0.33% |
| 2022 | 90,216 | -1,095 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 91,311 | -1,602 | -1.72% |
| 2020 | 92,913 | 1,943 | 2.14% |
| 2019 | 90,970 | -825 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 91,795 | -697 | -0.75% |
| 2017 | 92,492 | -238 | -0.26% |
| 2016 | 92,730 | 60 | 0.06% |
| 2015 | 92,670 | 452 | 0.49% |
| 2014 | 92,218 | 775 | 0.85% |
| 2013 | 91,443 | 745 | 0.82% |
| 2012 | 90,698 | 487 | 0.54% |
| 2011 | 90,211 | 423 | 0.47% |
| 2010 | 89,788 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 84,084 | -2,821 | -3.25% |
| 1990 | 86,905 | -1,409 | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 88,314 | 25 | 0.03% |
| 1970 | 88,289 | 5,040 | 6.05% |
| 1960 | 83,249 | 11,654 | 16.28% |
| 1950 | 71,595 | 18,095 | 33.82% |
| 1940 | 53,500 | 16,354 | 44.03% |
| 1930 | 37,146 | 21,894 | 143.55% |
| 1920 | 15,252 | 7,405 | 94.37% |
| 1910 | 7,847 | 4,790 | 156.69% |
| 1900 | 3,057 | 1,477 | 93.48% |
| 1890 | 1,580 | 1,163 | 278.9% |
| 1880 | 417 | -83,523 | -99.5% |