Burbank vs Santa Monica
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $1,089,100 in Burbank and $1,755,500 in Santa Monica.
- Households earn more in Santa Monica ($114,885 vs $97,082 median).
- Burbank has more scorching days: 54 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 5.
Side by side
| Burbank, CA | Santa Monica, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 102,988 | 90,082 |
| Growth since 2020 | -4% | -3.2% |
| People per square mile | 5,948 | 10,713 |
| Median age | 40.1 | 42.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47% | 71% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $97,082 | $114,885 |
| Median home value | $1,089,100 | $1,755,500 |
| Home value to income | 11.2× | 15.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,192 | $2,402 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 170.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $85,200 |
| Homeowners | 43% | 28% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 26.0 | 24.8 |
| Work from home | 30% | 38% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 7.4% | 6.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 11.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 67° / 45° | 66° / 49° |
| July high / low | 87° / 65° | 75° / 63° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 13 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 54 | 5 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 9 | 12 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | 11% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +31.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Burbank: October to June. Santa Monica: January to December.
Full monthly tables: Burbank weather by month and Santa Monica weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in Burbank and $85,200 in Santa Monica. Moving from Burbank to Santa Monica, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.