Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories
Hesperia
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($337,600 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,315)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Smaller class sizes — 23.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $48,488/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,488 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 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)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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 Hesperia
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$332k less
$337,600 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$48,488
$116,186 vs $67,698/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
68% lower
165.4 vs 519.6 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 35.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories. Hesperia 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 Hesperia to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $669,200 median home), income ($67,698 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 67 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.