Newton, MA vs Santa Monica, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Newton
69.4
#1220 nationally
Santa Monica
59.6
#1949 nationally
Newton leads in crime level (1.3 vs 21.3). Newton leads in median household income ($176,373 vs $106,797). Santa Monica leads in walk score (83 vs 57).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Newton, MA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1220) | 59.6 (#1949) |
| Population | 88,415 | 89,922 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,540,226 | $1,685,560 |
| Median Household Income | $176,373 | $106,797 |
| Average Commute | 27.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Walk Score | 57 | 83 |
| Crime Level | 1.3 | 21.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 207 | 273 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.5 | D+32.9 |
D+
69.4 Score
Newton, MA
Massachusetts community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,540,226
Population
88,415
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
57
Northeast
View Newton, MA →
F
59.6 Score
Santa Monica, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,685,560
Population
89,922
Crime
High
Walk Score
83
Pacific
View Santa Monica, CA →
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