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2025 Compare Cities Housing:
Santa Monica, CA vs Palo Alto, CA

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in Santa Monica is 7.3% younger than the median age of a home in Palo Alto.
 Santa Monica, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Median Home Age55  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$3,107,600$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months14.9%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock18.5%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.129.2%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$7.4$11.0
 Homes Owned25.4%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock8.9%11.2%
 Homes Rented63.5%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 Santa Monica, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$4,050$1,840
 Studio Apartment$1,940  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$2,750$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$2,810  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$4,100$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$4,010  Unlock$2,160
 space1
 Vacant Housing
 Santa Monica, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock3.2%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.4%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.3%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.3%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock0.8%3.6%
 Vacant Other4.6%  Unlock4.1%
 space2
 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 Santa Monica, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock1.0%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9990.6%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock0.1%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.2%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock0.0%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,9990.4%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock0.3%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,9991.0%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock0.6%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9991.4%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock1.7%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,99915.9%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock8.0%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,99913.6%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock75.5%1.1%
 space3
 Housing Units By Year Built
 Santa Monica, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.2%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock10.7%13.6%
 2000 to 20094.9%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock6.1%13.6%
 1980 to 19898.9%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock12.3%14.8%
 1960 to 19695.2%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock26.9%10.0%
 1940 to 19498.9%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock13.0%12.2%
Transportation
Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews
Renee · Santa Monica, CA
My comp of Okc vs SM differs from stars shown here
Over 4 years ago

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

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Cynthia · Santa Monica, CA
Best investment I've made.
Over 4 years ago

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

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John · Santa Monica, CA
Stay away. This place is dangerous.
Over 6 years ago

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

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Reviews for Palo Alto    8 Reviews
David · Palo Alto, CA
Wonderful place to live, except for the cost of li
Over 16 years ago

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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David · Menlo Park, CA
Cost of Living
Over 17 years ago

Very  More

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Lawrence · Palo Alto, CA
Public transit
Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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Learn More About Santa Monica, California
Overview
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Learn More About Palo Alto, California
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