2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Santa Monica, CA vs Grand Rapids, MI

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Grand Rapids, is 45% less than it is in Santa Monica and is 25% below the National Average.
- Santa Monica unemployment rate is 7.9%.
- Grand Rapids unemployment rate is 6.3%.
 Santa Monica, CAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.3%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock2.0%1.6%
 Future Job Growth33.0%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes10.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.8%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$80,830  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$55,385$69,021
 Family Median Income$137,253  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Santa Monica, CAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock12.5%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.7%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock9.0%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K5.5%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock9.3%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K3.7%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock10.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K9.1%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock14.3%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K11.6%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock3.9%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Santa Monica, CAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Management, business, finance30.6%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock6.2%6.5%
 Community, social services1.6%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.1%1.2%
 Education, library5.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.8%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.4%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement0.6%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock7.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance1.2%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.9%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support15.6%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.8%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair2.5%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock17.3%13.1%
Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews

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  More

   |    Reply

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  More

   |    Reply

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  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Monica

Reviews for Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

   |    Reply

Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

   |    Reply

Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Grand Rapids


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.