Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493
Santa Clarita
California
14
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($194,400 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1236/mo less ($1,079 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $51,223/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,223 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Kenosha
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Kenosha
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$475k less
$194,400 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$51,223
$116,186 vs $64,963/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
42% lower
165.4 vs 285.7 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 9 and Santa Clarita wins 14. 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 Kenosha to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $669,200 median home), income ($64,963 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.