Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Santa Clarita
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Rent averages $609/mo less ($1,706 vs $2,315)
Homes cost $116k less ($553,000 vs $669,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $10,172/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Households earn $10,172 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Arvada
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Home Value
$116k less
$553,000 vs $669,200
Arvada
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$10,172
$116,186 vs $106,014/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
42% lower
165.4 vs 285.6 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 13 and Santa Clarita wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $669,200 median home), income ($106,014 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Santa Clarita, CA are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.