Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 14 of 22 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Santa Clarita
California
14
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $851/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,315)
Homes cost $180k less ($489,400 vs $669,200)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 24.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $46,458/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $46,458 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
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)
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$180k less
$489,400 vs $669,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$46,458
$116,186 vs $69,728/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
87% lower
165.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 14 of 22 categories. Compton wins 8 and Santa Clarita wins 14. 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 Compton to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $669,200 median home), income ($69,728 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.