Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($196,500 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1285/mo less ($1,030 vs $2,315)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $57,604/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,604 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than High Point
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 52°F
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 23% higher than High Point
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$473k less
$196,500 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$57,604
$116,186 vs $58,582/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
64% lower
165.4 vs 454.8 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
High Point is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories. High Point 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 High Point to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $669,200 median home), income ($58,582 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.