Santa Clarita, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Santa Clarita.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Santa Clarita?
Santa Clarita planning snapshot: population 229,159, housing index 211 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $721,000, median rent $2,486, and income near $119,926. Expect 90°F summer highs, 46°F winter lows, and about 35-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 127 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 211U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $721,000U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,486U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $119,926U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 5.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 35 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 127per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 90°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Santa Clarita 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
- 229,159City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $119,926Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year53% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 211ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year111% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $721,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year138% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,486City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year84% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 5.2%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
- 35 min40% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 2838% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 127annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)78% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 944annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)69% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 90°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 46°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.4 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals59% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 331As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals24% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Santa Clarita grew 9.7% from 208,822 in 2010 to 229,159 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Santa Clarita expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Santa Clarita's housing cost index is 211 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($721,000 vs $303,400) and rents ($2,486 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 211 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $721,000 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,486 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Santa Clarita?
Typical ownership costs center near $721,000, while median gross rent is about $2,486 a month. Against a median household income of $119,926, rent alone is roughly 25% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $721,000
- Median rent $2,486/month
- Median household income $119,926
What is the job market like in Santa Clarita?
County unemployment recently ran 5.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Santa Clarita is about $119,926 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 5.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $119,926
How long is the typical commute in Santa Clarita?
Average one-way commute time is about 35 minutes, with Walk Score near 28/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 35 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 28/100
Is Santa Clarita safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 127 per 100k and property about 944 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 127 per 100k
- Property 944 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Santa Clarita?
Normals show summer highs near 90°F, winter lows near 46°F, about 13.4 inches of rain, and roughly 331 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 90°F
- Winter low 46°F
- 13.4 in rain · 331 sunny days
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 331 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 35 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 28/100. Labor-market readings near 5.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 127 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
Santa Clarita, California counts about 229,159 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $119,926 and a cost index of 211, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. A typical home near $721,000 and rents around $2,486 frame most shortlists.
Santa Clarita 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 Clarita 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 Clarita city, 1600000US0669088) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Los Angeles 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 (USW00023130 VAN NUYS AP) — 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