Santa Monica Real Estate & Neighborhood Guide

North of Montana estates, Ocean Avenue condominiums and walkable beach living, with 2026 market insight from Paul Salazar Group.

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Santa Monica, California.

Santa Monica, California.

Santa Monica at a Glance

Santa Monica is the Westside's signature beach city: roughly 91,000 residents across 8.4 square miles and five ZIP codes (90401, 90402, 90403, 90404 and 90405), with about 3.5 miles of Pacific frontage and a 92 Walk Score. Buyers come for the estates North of Montana, full-service condominiums on Ocean Avenue, highly rated public schools and a short commute to the Silicon Beach offices based in the city.

  • $3,850,000 — citywide median single-family price (2026)

  • $5.5M–$25M+ — North of Montana estates (90402)

  • $1.8M–$12M+ — Ocean Avenue oceanfront condominiums (90401)

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Santa Monica Neighborhoods & Price Ranges

North of Montana (90402)

$5,500,000 – $25,000,000+

Bounded by San Vicente Boulevard, Montana Avenue, Ocean Avenue and 26th Street, North of Montana is the city's premier estate neighborhood. Wide, tree-canopied streets and deep lots, often 8,000 to more than 15,000 square feet, hold Spanish Colonial Revival, East Coast Traditional, Craftsman and contemporary homes. La Mesa Drive, Georgina Avenue and Marguerita Avenue are among the most sought-after streets, and single-family sales typically land between $1,400 and $2,200+ per square foot.

Ocean Avenue & Palisades Park (90401)

$1,800,000 – $12,000,000+

Santa Monica's full-service condominium corridor sits on the bluffs above the bay, across from the 26 acres of Palisades Park and minutes from the pier and downtown. Buildings such as 101 Ocean and 701 Ocean offer 24-hour security, concierge service, rooftop pools and private elevator lobbies. Pricing runs from about $1.8M for a two-bedroom ocean-view residence to $12M+ for full-floor penthouses with wraparound terraces.

Montana Avenue & North of Wilshire (90403)

$2,200,000 – $6,500,000

The ten blocks of Montana Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets are the city's favorite neighborhood shopping street, lined with cafés, bakeries, boutiques and wellness studios. The residential blocks between Montana and Wilshire mix updated historic homes, single-family residences and luxury townhomes.

Ocean Park & Main Street (90405)

$1,600,000 – $5,200,000

On the Venice border, Ocean Park pairs an artistic history with Main Street's independent restaurants and direct access to Santa Monica State Beach. Housing ranges from restored early-1900s beach bungalows to modern infill homes and gated beachfront condominiums such as Sea Colony, making it a favorite with creative and tech buyers who want to walk everywhere.

Sunset Park & Mid-City (90404 / 90405)

$1,400,000 – $4,200,000

Quiet residential streets, Clover Park and easy access to Santa Monica College and Silicon Beach employers make Sunset Park and Mid-City the city's family neighborhoods. The planned conversion of Santa Monica Airport into a regional park adds long-term upside, and updated single-family homes here offer some of the strongest value per square foot in the city.

Lifestyle, Schools & the Silicon Beach Economy

Santa Monica pairs beach-town living with a serious economy. As the northern anchor of Silicon Beach, the city is home to offices for companies including Hulu, Activision Blizzard, Snap Inc. and Universal Music Group, along with a deep bench of venture capital firms.

Families are drawn to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), including Franklin Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and Santa Monica High School. Private options nearby include Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, Saint Monica Preparatory and New Roads School.

Getting around is easy: the Metro E Line runs from downtown Santa Monica to Culver City, USC and Downtown Los Angeles, while Pacific Coast Highway and the 10 Freeway connect the city to the rest of the region. LAX is about 8 miles south.

Buying or selling in Santa Monica? Paul Salazar Group offers discreet, data-driven representation from North of Montana to Ocean Park.

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Local Favorites: Life in Santa Monica

Beaches & Outdoors

  • Santa Monica State Beach & The Strand — wide sand and the Marvin Braude bike path, which runs south through Venice toward Marina del Rey.

  • Palisades Park — clifftop walking paths and sunset views above Ocean Avenue.

  • The Santa Monica Stairs — the 4th Street stairs at Adelaide Drive, a local workout ritual on the edge of North of Montana.

  • Tongva Park & Clover Park — downtown green space and a family favorite in Sunset Park.

Markets & Shopping

  • Santa Monica Farmers Markets — several weekly markets, including the downtown Wednesday market on Arizona Avenue that LA chefs shop and the Sunday market on Main Street.

  • Montana Avenue — boutiques, cafés and wellness studios with a neighborhood feel.

  • Third Street Promenade & Main Street — big-name retail downtown, independent shops and restaurants in Ocean Park.

Culture & Landmarks

  • Santa Monica Pier — the classic boardwalk, Pacific Park and the end of historic Route 66.

  • Bergamot Station Arts Center — a cluster of contemporary galleries next to the E Line's 26th Street/Bergamot stop.

  • Annenberg Community Beach House — a public beach club and pool on the former Marion Davies estate along PCH.

Getting Around

  • Metro E Line — three Santa Monica stations (Downtown Santa Monica, 17th Street/SMC and 26th Street/Bergamot) with direct service to Culver City and Downtown LA.

  • Bike & walk — protected bike lanes, bike share and a citywide Walk Score in the 90s make car-light living realistic.

  • Freeway & airport access — the 10 Freeway and PCH at your doorstep, with LAX about 8 miles south.

Paul Salazar Group in Santa Monica

Our Santa Monica Work

From North of Montana townhomes to Ocean Avenue condominiums, Paul Salazar Group represents buyers and sellers across every Santa Monica ZIP code.

Explore Nearby Neighborhoods

  • Brentwood — estate streets and Country Club living just north of San Vicente

  • Pacific Palisades — coastal bluffs, canyons and the rebuilding market

  • Venice — canals, Abbot Kinney and architectural beach homes

  • Westside Market Insights — mortgage, policy and market updates from our team

Santa Monica Real Estate FAQs

Market data current as of 2026. Sources: The Combined L.A. Westside MLS (CLAW), City of Santa Monica and SMMUSD public reporting. Figures are approximate and subject to change; contact us for the latest numbers.

  • As of 2026, the citywide median single-family home price in Santa Monica is about $3,850,000. North of Montana (90402) estates generally trade between $5.5 million and $25 million+, while Ocean Avenue condominiums range from roughly $1.8 million to more than $12 million.

  • North of Montana (ZIP code 90402) is Santa Monica's most expensive residential neighborhood, known for wide tree-lined streets, large lots and architecturally significant estates between San Vicente Boulevard and Montana Avenue. 90402 regularly ranks among the most expensive ZIP codes in the United States.

  • Santa Monica is served by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), which includes Franklin Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and Santa Monica High School. Well-known private schools nearby include Crossroads School, Saint Monica Preparatory and New Roads School.

  • Santa Monica is about 8 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport, typically a 15 to 25 minute drive via Lincoln Boulevard or the 405. The city is part of Silicon Beach itself, bordering Venice and Marina del Rey and hosting major tech offices within city limits.

  • Santa Monica covers five ZIP codes: 90401 (Downtown and the Ocean Avenue corridor), 90402 (North of Montana), 90403 (Montana Avenue and North of Wilshire), 90404 (Mid-City) and 90405 (Ocean Park, Main Street and Sunset Park).