Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Santa Clarita
California
15
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $548k less ($121,100 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1398/mo less ($917 vs $2,315)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $66,333/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,333 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Evansville
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Evansville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$548k less
$121,100 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$66,333
$116,186 vs $49,853/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
86% lower
165.4 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 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 | 317⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 8 and Santa Clarita wins 15. 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 Evansville to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $669,200 median home), income ($49,853 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,736 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.