My comp of Okc vs SM differs from stars shown here - 4/8/2021

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I guess it all depends on what you’re comparing it to. I will agree our beach gets trashed by all the tourists but maybe if they got the number of tourists Okc gets it wouldn’t be as bad. There is a lot of homelessness in Santa Monica but after seeing one with an Oklahoma H.S. T-shirt I started keeping my ears open and the majority are not from CA! They move there (I’ve heard a few homeless say) because the weather is conducive to tent living. So it appears the more in-climate US states, such as Oklahoma, benefit greatly from this migration as CA foots the tab in trying to deal with this huge issue. As far as one place being more friendly than another I would say that there are kind people in both places as well as ill mannered. If you are politically right don’t live in Santa Monica and if you politically left don’t live in Okc. I was told I was a lefty while living in Okc and was told when I moved to Santa Monica that I am not. If you’re in the middle like me you can find like minded people in both places but unfortunately the majority are polarized in both states. When it comes to crime, I’ve experienced it in both states. We had a vehicle stolen in Oklahoma as well as a scarecrow I made for a holiday decoration and have had several instances of petty theft in CA (dog harness on my front porch, solar lights along a busy side walk for people headed to the beach, and a bike) As far a value of stolen property obviously for us Oklahoma was much worse. I much prefer the walk ability of Santa Monica to the drive culture in Okc. While there are some great restaurants in Okc there is more variety in Santa Monica. I’m back in Okc taking care of my 89 yr old mom who I tried to get to come live with me in CA but she thinks 72 is freezing and loves the 90+ degree weather in Oklahoma. I did get her to come visit during the ice storms when she lost power for 5 days once and only lost power a couple days the second storm of this season and she love 72 then haha Obviously housing in Oklahoma is much more affordable than Santa Monica but my moms water bill is equal to mine which surprised me and of course her gas and electric are substantially more due to Oklahoma’s wild temperature ranges. Restaurants are cheaper in Okc but part of that is due to the type of dining as farm to table in Okc can be expensive too. Gas is cheaper in Okc but then I don’t have a car in Santa Monic so I save on all that encompasses. I would end by saying that everyplace has it’s pro’s and con’s and somethings matter more to one person than another. My mom who lives inside her large climate controlled home doesn’t care as much about the humid weather outside as I do because I prefer to be outside. For me, even with all the issues Santa Monica has, and I have some concerns regarding the laze-fair attitude towards rules/laws, the good far out weighs the bad in my comparison of these two state so I don’t agree with this site having rated Santa Monica lower than Oklahoma City. They both have earthquakes but only one has ice storms and tornados...but here I am back at weather so you know what matters most to me haha

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Best investment I've made. - 3/23/2021

I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to everything I need--Farmer's Markets, post office, shopping centers, groceries, car repairs, excellent medical care and beach. Public transportation is good and always improving. Property is expensive, but it has steadily increased in value over my years here--it's the best investment I've made. It has its share of unsheltered people and crime. Please tell me of somewhere that doesn't?

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Stay away. This place is dangerous. - 9/12/2019

I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not just homeless, but mentally deranged, I cannot recommend anyone moving here. The apathy and acceptance of such a beautiful area to become a crime ridden cesspool of drugs and murder breaks my heart. You can no longer walk your dog at night without fear that you will be stabbed in the neck. With passive city officials, police and residents who do not seem to care for the hell this place is turning into, There is no solution but to move out, or avoid this place at all costs.

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Polished Terd - 5/9/2019

Super expensive DUMP. No place to park without risking a ticket 4x a week IF you have permits. The local PO is run by aggro mentally deficient scum who can't deliver mail properly, so you will need to get a private mail center. Cops are USELESS and will not bother to write a report for crime, they are only there to write tickets. Addicts, panhandlers, & homeless hustle you, troll alleys, camp on the street, in Palisades Park and the beaches, which are full of ghetto trash since Metrorail. The city is run like a nazi state. Very few decent restaurants, every business that caters to tourists is so incredibly overpriced, few locals can go out for an evening anymore. Housing costs are astronomical. If you have a rent controlled unit, you'll do without maintenance or pay out of pocket. City govt polishes the turd, but when tourists arrive to see all the filming locations, they see all the filth and criminals that the film crews crop out, or the editors leave on the cutting room floor.

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Silicon Beach Digital - 1/6/2016

We help you grow your organic search traffic profitably, at any budget, and on your terms.A world where the every business owner has the resources to successfully market their business in the digital frontier.

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LA Midwife Collective offers personal and professi - 1/5/2016

We were lucky enough to meet Molly and Monica during their time at the Sanctuary. We had a heart breaking experience with our first pregnancy and their care went above and beyond! The emotional support we received was so unexpected, but needed. There is no way we would have had such support in a traditional medical setting. We had a beautiful experience with them during our second pregnancy. And we were thrilled to have the LA Midwife Collective around with them to care for us again in our third pregnancy and birth of our second daughter. I can't express properly how valuable my care with the LA midwives was. Prenatal visits were not just something I looked forward to because I got to hear my baby and be reassured that she was healthy, but it was a time I felt pampered and honored as a woman and mother. While no woman will likely describe their birth as easy, I did feel like every detail was explored and organized so that I felt settled and confident in our birth. It was amazing! Molly, Monica, and a student midwife, Maral came to assist in our birth. The strategic encouragement with pushing and positions was welcomed, never overwhelming, and made all the difference. Some high points: They're office is really nice and comfy They are reasonably priced The PP care is unmatched They have tons of resources: lactation, birthing classes, etc. They listen and they hear you

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Weather - 9/11/2014

Great weather. Love it.

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Comparison - 1/25/2014

I want to compare Santa Monica to Westport, Ct

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Climate - 7/11/2010

Santa Monica has the best weather of any place I have ever lived. I have never had a bad weather day in over three years.

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santa monica - 2/26/2010

Beautiful but ridiculously expensive....

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Quality of Life - 2/14/2010

I've read all of the reviews and they are all true. The bottom line is that this is paradise if you are wealthy. If not, the price of housing and the diffucult transportation situation will make your life miserable.

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A cultural melting pot on the California coast - 10/22/2009

Living in Santa Monica is a daily adventure. The mix of old fashioned and modern, wealthy and poor, young and old, make Santa Monica a melting pot of cultures in an ideal Southern California setting. Santa Monica has a side for everyone, artsy creative types, health nuts, bohemians, tech gurus, young business professionals, college students and retirees all coexist peacefully. I am able to enjoy an active healthy lifestyle outdoors, while enjoying high end shopping, beautiful weather and a great night life.

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Almost perfect weather - 8/15/2009

I was looking at some of the climate comfort indexes on several cities and noticed that Santa Monica's is lower than cities like Chicago, Seattle, and Cleveland?? It says that the index is based on the humidity levels during the "hot months", but when it's 70 degrees with 70% humidity, how can that be uncomfortable? Give me Santa Monica weather any day, I love this site but you might need to adjust the way you calculate that stat. By the way, Santa Monica has some of the best weather I've ever seen

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santa monica climate - 11/30/2008

Santa Monica has the best climate. It has mild summers and winters. It is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter compared to inland areas. So while it might be 90 in the valley or 100 in the dessert....it's in the 70's in Santa Monica. When it's in the 30's and 20's inland....it's in the 40's in Santa Monica . I'm looking to buy a place out in the country somewhere in the United States and I'm having trouble finding a place with such a lovely climate!

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Paradise? - 8/4/2008

Not far from it, I've lived by the beach in So Cal all my life. I just can't seem to give it up. I can walk everywhere, ocean, mountains, coffee shops, gym, stores, clubs, movies, etc,. And the weather... when it's good it's really good.

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Climate - 4/7/2008

As climate goes it's tough to beat. Generally mild winters and lovely spring, summer and fall.

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Great place if you can afford it. - 1/20/2008

Santa Monica is notable for its virtual absence of weather - it never gets especially cold or hot - outdoor activities are possible and pleasant year round. Whether it's the beach or the symphony, virtually any activity is within striking distance. We are peasants; we live and work in Santa Monica. That makes the traffic here more livable. Rush hour on the local roads and freeways hasn't reached 24/7 status yet but it gets closer every year. Commutes are measured in time not distance - even short trips on the wrong stretch of freeway can take forever. Don't let the population figure fool you. Santa Monica melds seemlessly into Los Angeles and therefore has some of both the problems and the benefits that you would associate with a much larger city. Much of the "affordable" housing stock here dates originally to the early part of the 20th century. We've owned two houses that were both built in 1938. Although many of these homes have seen updates since then, some are perilously close to original condition. Our first house, purchased around 1999, was still powered by a 30 Amp fuse box. For the non-electrical among you that means don't try to run the toaster and the hair dryer at the same time. Many of the houses are small by modern standards - 2000 square feet is a pretty big house by Santa Monica standards - not surprising. A two bedroom, 1 bath in 1000 sq. ft. in the Sunset Park district could set you back a million dollars. North of Montana avenue, where I grew up, I doubt that a million dollars would buy you a bare dirt lot. In a perfect world, I'd never leave. But given that the world isn't perfect we are seriously talking about moving. We love this city and have deep roots here. But we hope to retire someday on a diet of something more upscale then pet food. Our current property tax bill alone is over $8000.00 a year. A caution - that figure is based on what we paid for a very "affordable" house five years ago. The bill would be much higher if you purchased the house today. The money that we should be putting in our 401k for retirement goes to pay mortgage, insurance and property taxes. Santa Monica is a wonderful place to live in so many ways except for the cost. Coming from most zip codes in the U.S, you'll need to sharply lower your expectations regarding housing when moving here. Even then you'll be paying dearly for those lowered expectations. In return, however, you'll be getting about the most pleasant climate available in the U.S. and access to more recreation and cultural opportunities then you can ever hope to take advantage of.

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Getting worse each year! - 12/26/2007

Santa Monica used to be a very nice place to live, but as the cost of living continues to up each year, it also seems that the quality of life is going down. The neighborhoods north of Wilshire are safe and physically attractive, but hardly anybody walks here and the sidewalks in the neighborhoods are kind of empty. Montana Ave. is very pretentious (and boring) and its cafes are noisy and are unappealing places to sit and relax. Most of the restaurant on Montana are over-rated, over-priced and too noisy. The city is turning into a police state, with its ridiculous no-smoking-outdoor laws, and the same people who fought for this idiocy drive around in obscene SUVs whose emissions are far more dangerous than "second-hand smoke." The 3rd Street Promenade which used to have interesting and small restaurants and shops is now filled with horrible chain stores and restaurants that you can find anywhere (unfortunately) and which are uniformly loud. The quality of street performers and street vendors on the Promenade is about a two on a scale of one to ten, though I'd put the performers here into a -1 rating. Between the horrible cacophony of noise produced by one street performer and another and the boom-boxes carried by people on the promenade, this part of the city is a disaster in terms of being a nice pubic space. Don't bother to get outdoor seating in a Promenade restaurant, unless you love listening to several loud street performers all doing their thing at once. Parking is horrendous in the downtown area, public transportation stinks, and there have been measures to make it uncomfortable to sit outdoors with horrible benches and in some places metal spikes to prevent people from sitting down. The beaches are polluted and many of them ugly as they are right next to the ugly Pacific Coast Highway, and there are hardly any trees, and unlike New England, where you can bring your dog once the summer season is over (through Memorial Day), there is not a single beach in Santa Monica where you can bring your dog at any time of year. If you are planning on having a picnic with wine, forget it, as you cannot drink anything with alcohol outdoors anywhere in the police state of Santa Monica. Homeless and crazies abound throughout the city. If you want to live in Santa Monica, plan to stay at home, since what you find in the business districts and public spaces is not that appealing!

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expensive and not worth it!!!! - 10/14/2007

I have lived here my whole life and it is just becoming more and more populated. Housing prices are ridiculous and even the oldest and smallest apartments are too expensive. The traffic in the area is out of this world. If you are looking to move here then you better have a lot of money! Oh, by the way, if you want to go to the beach, you better go further north like Malibu, because santa monica beach is one of the most polluted beaches anywhere. Homeless galore and junkies inhabit much of Santa Monica and it's beaches. Still interested?

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Lovely - 7/10/2007

If you're looking for a great climate in a little LA city, this is the place to be!

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