Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($159,600 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1395/mo less ($920 vs $2,315)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $62,047/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,047 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Edinburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Edinburg
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$510k less
$159,600 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$62,047
$116,186 vs $54,139/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
39% lower
165.4 vs 269.6 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 9 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 Edinburg to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $669,200 median home), income ($54,139 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,331 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.