1 Attachment G – Community Demographics Summary
Purpose
This report provides an overview of relevant publicly available data to inform the development of the Santa Monica Aging and Disability Action Plan (“Plan”) which is focused on improving community livability, and planning for the current and future needs of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. This data summary includes information about community demographics, health status, economic conditions, and caregiving needs. Where possible, Santa Monica-specific data is cited from the U.S.
Census and other sources; when needed, Los Angeles County trends are interpreted as a baseline projection for the Santa Monica community.
The forthcoming Plan is informed by a combination of the publicly available data below, and feedback from an extensive needs assessment process that engaged community members through surveys, focus groups, and a community open house.
Geography and Government Structure
Santa Monica covers 8.4 square miles on the western edge of Los Angeles County and is part of the county’s Service Planning Area 5 (SPA 5), which encompasses other Westside communities, including Beverly Hills, Culver City and Council District 11 of the City of Los Angeles. SPA 5 provides regional context and data beneficial for comprehensive health and social planning.
Santa Monica operates under a council-manager form of government. The sevenmember City Council acts as the city's legislative body, with policies implemented by the City Manager. This governance model supports effective administration and responsive services tailored to local needs.
2 Older Adult Population
Santa Monica has a significant and growing older adult population. Current estimates are detailed below:
Santa Monica LA County
Total Population 89,939 9,663,345
Older Adults (65y+) 17,611 1,448,571
% of Total Population 19.6% 15%
White 65y+ 12,222 (69.4%) 549,008 (37.9%)
BIPOC 65y+ 5,389 (30.6%) 899,563 (62.1%)
65y+ in Poverty 2,941 (16.7%) 208,594 (14.4%)
65y+ Living Alone 6,410 (36.4%) 301,303 (20.8%)
Non-English Speaking 65y+ 3,117 (17.7%) 524,383 (36.2%) Female 65y+ 10,038 (57.0%) 811,200 (56.0%)
Adults 75y+ 8,418 (47.8%) 605,503 (41.8%)
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023),
*Note: Percentages in parentheses reflect proportions specifically of the senior population (65+).
Racial/Ethnic Composition
Santa Monica’s older adult population (65 and over) is majority White with representation from Asian, Black and Latino populations in the minority. The table below compares racial/ethnic groups for the population 65+.
Population 65y+ by Race and Ethnicity
Santa Monica LA County
Asian 10.40% 20.20%
Black 4.70% 8.40%
Latino 12.50% 31.00%
White 69.40% 37.90%
Other 3.00% 2.50%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023)
3 Language
Among Santa Monica residents aged 65 and older, approximately 6,829 (34%) speak a language other than English at home. Of these, 3,577 individuals—representing 17.7% of the older adult population—report speaking English less than “very well.” Common languages spoken include Amharic, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Farsi.
Sources: American Community Survey (2023); UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Population Living with a Disability
Data from Santa Monica and Los Angeles County show that disability rates rise sharply in older adulthood—particularly among those aged 65 to 74. In Santa Monica, 17.6% of residents in this age group report having a disability, compared to 6.0% of people ages 35 to 64.
Percent of population with a disability in each age group Age
Group
Santa
Monica
LA
County
Under 5 0.0% 0.6%
5 to 17 3.5% 4.3%
18 to 34 3.6% 5.3%
35 to 64 6.0% 9.4%
65 to 74 17.6% 23.4%
75+ 42% 50%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023)
Types of disabilities among people ages 65+ with a disability in Santa Monica Disability Type Prevalence
Sensory 16%
Physical 31%
Mental 16%
Self-care 14%
Go-outside-home 24%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023)
Racial/Ethnicity/Gender
Disability prevalence by race and ethnicity is relatively consistent—ranging from 8% to 10% across Asian, Black, Latino, and White populations. However, there is a 4 noteworthy gender difference - an estimated 65% of older adults with disabilities in Santa Monica are women.
Sources: American Community Survey (2023)
Health Conditions by Race/Ethnicity (Ages 50 and Over)
Health Disparities
Health status among older adults varies significantly by race and ethnicity, particularly in Los Angeles County. County-level data serves as a baseline to estimate disparities in Santa Monica. Among people ages 50 and older, Latino and Black adults experience notably higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension compared to their White and Asian counterparts. Mental health and social wellbeing also show disparities—Asian and Latino older adults are more likely to report limited social support and lower levels of physical activity. Health disparities in Santa Monica may appear less pronounced than rates in LA County but remain important, particularly when intersecting with language access and living arrangements.
Health Conditions by Race/Ethnicity for Age 50+ in LA County Latino White Black Asian
Diabetes 28.10% 13.60% 27.10% 18.10%
Hypertension 43.30% 39.90% 57.10% 43.30%
Depression 16.00% 19.30% 21.70% 11.10%
Limited Social Support 34.80% 10.90% 10.40% 39.60%
Gets Adequate Aerobic Exercise 20.20% 31.50% 29.40% 28.80% Source: LA County Public Health Reports (2020)
Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias have a profound and growing impact on older adults across Los Angeles County. This is currently the third leading cause of death among adults 65 and older. Dementia cases are expected to nearly double by 2030—especially among Latino, Asian, and Black communities. Santa Monica can anticipate a similar prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, which should be considered in the context of other demographic data points. 5 Older adults with Alzheimer’s or other dementias may be impacted by memory loss, disorientation, and managing daily activities. These challenges are magnified when individuals lack consistent support, which is important to consider given that 36% of Santa Monica’s older adults live alone. People living alone may face delayed diagnoses, difficulties following care plans, or increased safety concerns due to isolation.
Sources: LA County Public Health Reports (2020); California Department of Public Health Alzheimer’s Disease Program (2022).
Caregivers
Family caregivers are essential to the well-being of older adults and people with disabilities, often serving as the primary source of day-to-day support. In Los Angeles County, approximately 17% of adult men and 18% of adult women provide unpaid care.
While city-specific data is not available, Santa Monica is part of Service Planning Area 5 (SPA 5), where an estimated 24% of adults report providing care to a friend or family member in the past 30 days. Many of these caregivers are older adults themselves or are juggling multiple responsibilities like careers and parenting.
The demand for both unpaid and professional caregiving in Santa Monica is expected to grow, driven by several intersecting factors: an aging population, a high percentage of older adults living alone, and the predominance of women—who are statistically more likely to serve as caregivers and to need care as they age. Chronic illnesses and dementia-related conditions will further intensify this need.
Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (2020)
Income and Expenses
Income and Poverty
Many older adults in Santa Monica rely on a mix of Social Security, pensions, retirement savings, and, in some cases, continued employment. However, income levels vary widely, and a significant portion of the older population lives on fixed incomes that struggle to keep pace with the city’s high cost of living. The median income for Santa Monica residents aged 65 and older is approximately $59,000, which is lower than the median for older adults in Los Angeles County. Poverty is present, 17.9% of Santa Monica’s older residents live below the federal poverty level—a rate higher than the 6 county average. Among people with a disability ages 21-64, state-level data indicates 22% live below the poverty line (American Community Survey, 2023).
Older adults in Santa Monica experience poverty at higher rates than the general adult population. While 17.9% of residents aged 65 and older live below the federal poverty level, only 10% of adults ages 18 to 59 fall below that threshold. When poverty data among older adults is disaggregated by race and ethnicity, disparities emerge. For example, although White residents make up the largest share of the older adult population, Latino and Asian older adults are disproportionately represented among those living in poverty. The table below shows the racial and ethnic distribution of Santa Monica residents aged 65 and older who are below the federal poverty line.
Of Total Ethnic Group, Percent of Older Adults 65+ below Federal Poverty Line Santa
Monica
Los Angeles
County
Asian 3.36% 3.13%
Black 3.77% 2.70%
Latino 3.16% 1.53%
White 3.49% 2.45%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023)
Of Ethnic Group Population below Federal Poverty Line, Percent who are Older Adults 65+
Santa
Monica
Los Angeles
County
Asian 32.49% 27.65%
Black 16.37% 13.63%
Latino 33.19% 9.77%
White 29.88% 25.06%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023)
While local data on labor force participation among people with disabilities is not available for this report, national trends suggest that individuals with disabilities in Santa 7 Monica likely experience lower employment rates and reduced income-earning opportunities compared to the general population.
Labor Force Participation Rate
Santa Monica LA County
16 to 19 16.4% 26.3%
20 to 24 90% 71%
25 to 29 94.4% 85.1%
30 to 34 95.9% 85.6%
35 to 44 86.7% 83.6%
45 to 54 87.7% 82.5%
55 to 59 84.9% 75.5%
60 to 64 63.3% 62%
65 to 74 38.2% 30.9%
75 + 11% 8.5%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2022)
Housing Status and Costs
Housing affordability remains a key determinant of economic stability for older adults.
Cost burdens vary significantly based on housing tenure—whether individuals rent, own with a mortgage, or own their homes outright. The table below presents the total number of renter and owner households in Santa Monica, along with the percentage of occupants by age group. Overall, approximately 73% of Santa Monica households are renters, while 27% are homeowners. Noteworthy, home ownership is concentrated in the 55+ population, which represents 61.5% of all Santa Monica homeowners. 8 Santa Monica Housing Status by Age
Age
Owner
Occupied
Renter
Occupied
15 to 24 0.55% 3.48%
25 to 34 6.07% 24.59%
35 to 44 13.30% 21.12%
45 to 54 18.58% 15.63%
55 to 59 10.39% 7.60%
60 to 64 10.90% 6.94%
65 to 74 21.81% 11.69%
75 to 84 12.86% 6.02%
85+ 5.53% 2.94%
Total 100% 100%
Source: American Community Survey (ACS, 2023)
The tables below illustrate housing cost burdens among older adults in Santa Monica and Los Angeles County across these categories. Notably, a substantial proportion of older renters and homeowners with mortgages in Santa Monica spend more than 35% of their income on housing, indicating a high level of financial vulnerability. Even older adults who own their homes without a mortgage are not exempt from cost pressures, facing ongoing expenses such as property taxes, maintenance, and utilities. These burdens, when coupled with fixed incomes and rising healthcare costs, increase the risk of housing instability.
9 Housing Cost Burden by Housing Status
Older Adult Renters
Cost Burden Santa Monica LA County
Less than 30% 54% 43%
More than 30% 46% 57%
Older Adult Homeowners with a Mortgage
Cost Burden Santa Monica LA County
Less than 30% 61% 57%
More than 30% 39% 43%
Older Adult Homeowners without a Mortgage
Cost Burden Santa Monica LA County
Less than 30% 74% 83%
More than 30% 26% 18%
Source: City of Santa Monica and LA County Housing Data (2020) Homelessness
The challenges facing older adults and people with disabilities are even more acute among people experiencing homelessness. According to the 2024 Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Point-in-Time Count, 15% of people experiencing homelessness in Service Planning Area 5 are aged 60 or older, and 41% are living with a disability. The most commonly reported disabilities include substance use disorders, physical limitations, and serious mental illness.
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS, 2022 & 2023); City of Santa Monica and LA County Housing Data (2020); LAHSA Point-in-Time Count (2024);