Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 12 of 23 categories
Clovis
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
120,607
Santa Clarita
California
11
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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($420,700 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $833/mo less ($1,482 vs $2,315)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Smaller class sizes — 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $17,632/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Clovis
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,632 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Median Home Value
$249k less
$420,700 vs $669,200
Clovis
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.2°F
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$17,632
$116,186 vs $98,554/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
32% lower
165.4 vs 244.6 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 12 of 23 categories. Clovis wins 12 and Santa Clarita wins 11. 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 Clovis to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $669,200 median home), income ($98,554 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 180 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.