Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clarita, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Santa Clarita
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Homes cost $986k less ($669,200 vs $1,654,800)
79% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $9,389 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $88/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,315)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (4790.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$9,389
$116,186 vs $106,797/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
79% lower
165.4 vs 778.0 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Median Home Value
$986k less
$669,200 vs $1,654,800
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
24.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 69.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clarita, CA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $669,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,315⚠ High | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,186 ✓ Higher | $106,797 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.2 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saugus Union | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,850 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.1% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clarita's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Santa Clarita wins 11 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Santa Clarita to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($669,200 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($116,186 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clarita, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 28 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.