Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
137,217
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($219,800 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1060/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $51,756/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,756 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Hampton
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Hampton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Home Value
$449k less
$219,800 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$51,756
$116,186 vs $64,430/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
33% lower
165.4 vs 247.6 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories. Hampton 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 Hampton to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $669,200 median home), income ($64,430 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.