By Vince Sanders
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
6 min read
Reviewed by Martin Pаnауоtоv
Editor
Martin is founder of MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
323 movers in Santa Monica
"I hired dominant moving for a local move in San Diego County of my small 2 bedroom apartment. Javier and David were awesome in the move. Tony was amazing while booking in the phone. Paid less than estimated."
"I was hire movers to do full packing , because its moving to up north in California and they offer to me full service . Guys did grate job !!!! All my furniture and boxes was pack. Thank you guys for your hard work!!! Space Moving is THE BEST MOVE..."
"Jorge and Alejandro were efficient and professional. They arrived on time and brought everything we needed. They labeled everything correctly and loaded it as specified. Jorge communicated with me about arrival time."
"My experience with move happy was truly effortless from start to finish during a difficult time in my life. I was skeptical at first with finding the ad on instagram but they are true to their word. I had a quick and competitive quote and the guys..."
"Thieves that's what the should call themselves..this company steals your stuff then sells it.. is a big cover up..they use the moving as a front anything they think they can sell they will steal..they stole over 1000$ from my husband and I. Apple ..."
"This company is horrific. We moved locally after getting robbed. They helped us for two days. Our quote was 1,800. Then they threw in some bs about triple time and double time. I swear on my life it was about $14000 to move from Encino to Tarzana...."
"I recently used beefcake for my move, and I cannot recommend them enough! From start to finish, they provided exceptional service that made the entire process stress-free. Their pricing was refreshingly transparent—no hidden fees or surprises, jus..."
"Having served in the military for 30 years, my family and I have experienced plenty of difficult moves over the decades. We know what bad moves look like, even when the government goes to the lowest bidder. However, our recent experience with West..."
"Had Rushmore Van Lines for a move from FL to Texas. Everything arrived quickly with all 8 pieces of furniture were intact. That was our biggest worry, to be honest. The guys who showed up for the pickup were really careful with everything, but the..."
"I hired this company in January 2025 to pack and move my items from California to Canada. The initial quote was $4280 for 300 cf. When movers arrived on March 31, 2025, we went over what was to be packed and shipped. Throughout the process from ..."
"Excellent movers. They were clear, showed up when they said they would, delivered everything I needed perfectly, packed everything efficiently, and they were calm and happy guys! I would use them again."
"BEWARE: DO NOT USE THEM. A 800.00 Brand New Jackery Solar Generator “disappeared” while there movers were loading a POD. It was shown to the movers to load in the POD, moments later it was gone, assuming it was in the POD, but it never arrived to ..."
"This company failed to honor their contract with us. On the day our goods were delivered their driver told us he was waiting for his "guy" to arrive and help him unload our goods. This is when we found out they only send one person from their comp..."
"I used Cross Country Movers for a long-distance move from San Jose, California to Boise, Idaho, and overall I’m very satisfied with the service. I was a bit nervous choosing interstate movers, but the team was professional and easy to communicate ..."
"My family & I needed a quick pack/move out of state. Eric was prompt in responses. He sent over a team with extra helping hands to get the job done! Not only was the price right, but they delivered in 2 days! Couldn't ask for better."
What to know when moving to Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica at a Glance
- The Vibe:
- A highly educated ZIP where 75.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree and 95.2% are renters.
- The Major Draw:
- Median household income is $106,704, which supports a vibrant community.
- The Reality Check:
- With a median gross rent of $2,549, housing costs are considerably high.
- Commute:
- Only 3.5% use public transit, indicating a car-dependent area.
- Top Tip:
- Budget for rent around $2,549 per month.
The 'Vibe' Check: Who Thrives Here?
Santa Monica has a population of about 7,925, with a significant portion of its residents being highly educated. Roughly 95.2% of the housing is rented, which contributes to a dynamic community atmosphere. With 75.5% of residents holding a bachelor's degree, the area attracts individuals focused on education and professional growth.
Probably not your spot if you are looking for affordable housing, as the median rent is $2,549.
Your Money: Housing & Cost Snapshot
- Median gross rent is $2,549, making it a costly place to live.
- Median owner-occupied home value is $1,129,700, indicating a high real estate market.
- The poverty rate stands at 19.2%, suggesting economic challenges for some residents.
- With 95.2% of residents renting, this area leans heavily towards a rental market.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Data Profiles.
Crime & Safety: What the Numbers Say
In California, the property crime rate is 1,764 per 100,000 residents, which is 14% higher than the national average of 1,547. Meanwhile, the violent crime rate stands at 415.5 per 100,000, exceeding the national average of 325.3 by 27.7%.
- Violent crime: 415.5 per 100,000 vs. national rate 325.3
- Property crime: 1,764 per 100,000 vs. national rate 1,547
- Notable trend: Property crime has decreased by 26.1% since 2022.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (state-level summarized data for California).
Schools & Higher Ed
Santa Monica has access to educational opportunities with a total of 43 postsecondary institutions in the nearby area.
- Colleges with College Scorecard data: 41
- Notable institutions include Santa Monica College and Pardee RAND Graduate School.
Source: ArcGIS Postsecondary School Locations, NCES College Scorecard.
Weather & Getting Outside
Los Angeles County sees about 18.8 inches of rain annually across 32 rainy days. Winter brings the highest precipitation, with 11 inches of rain over 14 days. The area is ideal for outdoor activities year-round.
- Parks & outdoor spots worth checking out:
- Santa Monica State Beach (4.6 stars, 1,474 reviews)
- Palisades Park (4.7 stars, 8,057 reviews)
- Clover Park (4.7 stars, 1,717 reviews)
- Ocean View Park (4.7 stars, 2,327 reviews)
Source: NOAA Climate Data Online, Google Places.
Jobs & the Local Economy
In Los Angeles County, the unemployment rate is currently at 5.0%, with approximately 4,889,561 people employed out of a labor force of 5,148,903.
- Unemployment rate: 5.0% as of December 2025
- Employed: 4,889,561
- Labor force: 5,148,903
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.