Santa Clara, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Santa Clara.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara planning snapshot: population 133,132, housing index 363 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $1,527,900, median rent $2,985, and income near $173,670. Expect 80°F summer highs, 42°F winter lows, and about 26-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 163.1 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 363U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,527,900U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,985U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $173,670U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.1%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 26 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 163.1per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 80°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Santa Clara compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 133,132City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $173,670Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year121% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 363ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year263% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,527,900City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year404% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,985City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year121% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.1%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 26 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5420% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 163.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)72% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 3619.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)17% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 80°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 42°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.5 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals59% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 306As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Santa Clara grew 14.0% from 116,761 in 2010 to 133,132 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Santa Clara expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Santa Clara runs 263 points higher on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 363 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,527,900 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,985 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Santa Clara?
Budget first around $2,985/month rent or $1,527,900 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $1,527,900
- Median rent $2,985/month
- Median household income $173,670
What is the job market like in Santa Clara?
Labor-market context for Santa Clara: unemployment 4.1% and median income $173,670. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 4.1% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $173,670
How long is the typical commute in Santa Clara?
Plan on roughly 26 minutes each way in Santa Clara. Walk Score estimates around 54 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 26 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 54/100
Is Santa Clara safer than similar U.S. cities?
Santa Clara's FBI-derived violent rate (~163.1/100k) sits below the average of mapped MapsToIt cities. Use the figure as a screening signal, then verify the blocks you would actually live on.
- Violent 163.1 per 100k
- Property 3619.6 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara's climate profile: 80°F summer peaks, 42°F winter mornings, 13.5" annual rainfall, and 306 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 80°F
- Winter low 42°F
- 13.5 in rain · 306 sunny days
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 306 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 26 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 54/100. Labor-market readings near 4.1% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 163.1 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
About 133,132 people live in Santa Clara, CA. With median income around $173,670 and a cost index of 363, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,527,900 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Santa Clara is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Santa Clara with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Santa Clara city, 1600000US0669084) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Santa Clara County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023293 SAN JOSE) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10