Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($308,300 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1088/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $56,580/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,580 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$361k less
$308,300 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$56,580
$116,186 vs $59,606/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
51% lower
165.4 vs 336.9 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $669,200 median home), income ($59,606 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.