3 Santa Monica Neighborhoods Named Among Best Best Places To Live In U.S. By Research Firm

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica is home to three of the best places to live in California and the U.S., according to a new ranking by research firm Niche.

Niche, which specializes in data-driven methods to rank schools and neighborhoods, analyzed places of various sizes in its 2026 Best Places to Live in America ranking.

Three Santa Monica neighborhoods were ranked among the top 50 Best Places to Live in America:

Niche also compiled a Best Places to Live in California list. Among LA County neighborhoods, Santa Monica dominated the top of the list:

• Santa Monica — City Center (No. 5)
• Santa Monica — Mid-City (No. 9)
• Santa Monica — Ocean Park (No. 14)
• Santa Monica — Sunset Park (No. 21)
• Santa Monica — Wilshire/Montana (No. 29)
• Santa Monica — Northeast (No. 35)

The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

The complete Best Places to Live in California and Best Places to Live in America lists are available on the Niche website.