The city has been known since its inception as a pleasant seaside resort whose residents, because of easy access to route 10, can comfortably commute to downtown Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley jobs. There is a substantial employment base in Santa Monica itself, including light manufacturing, aircraft and aerospace equipment, electronic components, and pens. Many leading entertainment and high technology companies, including Sony, MGM, and Microsoft, have relocated to Santa Monica in recent years. The RAND think tank, Santa Monica city government, and Santa Monica College also offer employment opportunities.

Three-fourths of the population of Santa Monica are renters. Stringent rent control laws, which have been a source of downgraded maintenance on the multi-unit portion of the city’s housing for the last 20 years, are now being phased out, with vacant apartments being offered at market rents. There is a strong slow-growth sentiment in Santa Monica, which seeks to curb infill and preserve the current population density and quality of life. Demand for homes in this highly desirable area has been increasing steadily for decades. Homes and apartments are more affordable in South Santa Monica. North Santa Monica has some of the most exclusive homes on the Westside, as well as high-end apartments and condominiums.

To the west of Santa Monica is the ocean. To the south is the artistic, eclectic community of Venice, to the east is the upwardly mobile community of West Los Angeles, and to the north the exclusive bedroom communities of Pacific Palisades and Brentwood.

Local attractions include the famous Santa Monica Pier, with fishing, an amusement park, and weekend dancing to live rock and jazz bands; the thriving Third Street Promenade business district, with several movie theater complexes, many eateries, street performers, and a lively weekend night life; and Montana Avenue, with its trendy shops and restaurants. Santa Monica Place, at the south end of the Promenade, is an upscale shopping mall. Santa Monica College is located in southern Santa Monica, as is the Main Street shopping district, currently undergoing revitalization. The city boasts a number of art galleries, artists’ studios, and small theatres for the performing arts. In downtown Santa Monica, several large hotels cater to the tourist trade. For aviation enthusiasts, the Museum of Flying is located at Santa Monica Airport on the southeastern border of the city. Los Angeles International Airport is a short drive to the south along route 405. Saint John’s Health Center is situated in Santa Monica, as is the Santa Monica – UCLA Medical Center.

Santa Monica has several well-kept parks as well as an active recreation program. The popular Palisades Park, with its panoramic view of the coastline, is currently undergoing a major facelift, which should make it a showplace in the near future. Santa Monica Beach is a very popular destination for tourists in summer. A path that runs the length of the beach is used for strolling, running, biking, and rollerskating year round. Joggers also enjoy a route among the grass- and coral-tree lined median strip on San Vicente Blvd, which runs from the bluffs overlooking the ocean through Brentwood. At the northwest end of Fourth Street, a stairway leading down into Santa Monica Canyon offers a free outdoor workout for those in the know.