Pico
Neighborhood in Santa Monica, California
Los Angeles County 90401, 90404
Diversity of housing
Pico has a mix of single-family homes, condos and townhouses, and multifamily units. The single-family housing inventory consists mainly of classic California bungalows — cozy homes with between 900 and 1,700 square feet. “The homes here are smaller, so they’re a little bit more affordable to get into,” Svidler says. “North of the 10 will be more expensive than south of the 10.” The neighborhood’s streets are quiet and spacious, lined by sidewalks under a thick canopy of shade trees. “This is higher density housing than Sunset Park, but not too high density. You’re talking duplexes and quadplexes up to 10 or 20 units.” Single-family homes in Pico are priced between $1.2 million and $2.5 million. Depending on proximity to the coast, condos and townhomes list between $600,000 and $1.6 million. Multifamily units are priced between $1.3 million and $5 million.Just 2 miles from the beach
One of the big draws to Pico is convenient beach access. The community is a breezy 2 miles from Santa Monica State Beach and the city’s iconic pier and promenade. Much like the rest of Santa Monica, Pico is dotted with public parks and cultivated green space. Ishihara Park is dog-friendly, with exercise equipment and covered patio seating with grills and benches. There is plenty of grassy open space at Virginia Avenue Park, which is situated on 10 acres along Pico Boulevard. The park has a community center and a seasonal splash pad. Kids can keep busy at the two playgrounds or shooting hoops at the basketball courts. There is a farmers market at the park on Saturday mornings.Schools have big appeal to buyers
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified is one of the best school districts in greater Los Angeles, with an A-plus grade from Niche. The school district and teachers are in the top 5% of all California schools, according to Niche. "The schools have a big appeal to buyers in this area," says Compass agent Nitzan Lumer, a third-generation Angeleno who lived in neighboring Ocean Park for a decade. Graded A by Niche, Edison Language Academy is a dual immersion school in Spanish that works towards fluency starting in preschool, which continues in the district through high school. John Adams Middle School is another A school. Santa Monica High School is graded A-plus by Niche, which ranks it in the state's top 5% of public high schools.Events at the Bergamot Station Arts Center
The neighborhood is home to Bergamot Station Arts Center, the largest art gallery and cultural complex on the West Coast since 1994. Once a railroad station from 1875 to 1953, the city of Santa Monica eventually asked gallery owner Wayne Blank to reimagine the space. He created a venue that has become a community cornerstone, making art more accessible to visitors. On a given night, there are art exhibits, live comedy or music, poetry readings and performance art — in addition to the many educational programs offered. The venue’s on-site restaurant is Le Great Outdoor, which serves a farm-fresh, grill-centered menu.Direct highway access and some noise
Pico is bisected by Interstate 10, which provides direct access to downtown Los Angeles about 15 miles east. The highway sits at a lower elevation than much of the neighborhood and is walled off along residential areas to minimize traffic noise — but it still exists. The Santa Monica Pier is about 2 miles away via Pico Boulevard, one of the area’s main thoroughfares that is lined by bus stops. "Pico Boulevard is a fast street that I would not consider particularly walkable," Svidler says. The Santa Monica Airport is nearby but only serves a handful of private planes, so noise isn’t an issue. Residents must drive the 10 miles south to Los Angeles International Airport, which can take about an hour, depending on traffic. UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is about a mile away via 17th Street.Shopping and Dining on Pico Boulevard
Shopping and dining in Pico occur along Pico Boulevard, a dense commercial stretch that runs the length of the neighborhood. There is a Whole Foods Market at the intersection of Cloverfield Boulevard for stocking up on groceries and essentials. Some of the businesses cater to students at Santa Monica College, which is just across Pico Boulevard. Lo/Cal Coffee & Market is a high-end coffee house popular with the student set. It’s the kind of place where baristas get to know the customers, who swear by the sandwiches and empanadas. Lunetta All Day is a New American restaurant that attracts a more sophisticated crowd. Brunch is big at this relaxed, upmarket venue, which has a wide range of seating options, including an outdoor patio lined with greenery that looks like a cafe in a quaint Parisian alleyway. The atmosphere changes at Lunetta At Night.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Eric Hartnack
Compass
(562) 543-5641
13 Total Sales
1 in Pico
$1,625,000 Price
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Chrissy Reilly
Seven Gables Real Estate
(657) 301-4081
41 Total Sales
1 in Pico
$1,650,000 Price
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Cindy Ambuehl
Responds QuicklyChristie's International Real Estate SoCal
(747) 294-3863
124 Total Sales
2 in Pico
$1.2M - $1.6M Price Range
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Ken Sisson
Coldwell Banker Realty
(424) 373-6518
38 Total Sales
1 in Pico
$1,375,000 Price
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Candice Carpenter
Coastal Elite Properties
26 Total Sales
1 in Pico
$1,710,000 Price
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Maria Cervantes
Responds QuicklyRGC Capital Inc.
(562) 358-5398
19 Total Sales
1 in Pico
$1,000,000 Price
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Pico | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 4 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
Robbery | 5 | 4 |
Burglary | 6 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
Larceny | 6 | 4 |
Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Pico Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Pico, Santa Monica sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Pico, Santa Monica over the last 12 months is $1,522,500, up 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Sunday, Jun 152 - 5pm
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Sunday, Jun 152 - 5pm
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Sunday, Jun 152 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
Good Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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