Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Santa Clarita
California
13
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($277,200 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $958/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,315)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $66,285/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,285 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hemet
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$392k less
$277,200 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$66,285
$116,186 vs $49,901/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
61% lower
165.4 vs 424.8 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 35.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 10 and Santa Clarita wins 13. 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 Hemet to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $669,200 median home), income ($49,901 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 98 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.