Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 21 categories
San Antonio
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ 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.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $471k less ($198,000 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1126/mo less ($1,189 vs $2,315)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $56,593/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,593 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than San Antonio
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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than San Antonio
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$471k less
$198,000 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$56,593
$116,186 vs $59,593/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
72% lower
165.4 vs 594.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 21 categories. San Antonio wins 8 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 San Antonio to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $669,200 median home), income ($59,593 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.