Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clarita, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories
Santa Clarita
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1012k less ($669,200 vs $1,680,700)
32% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Rent averages $675/mo less ($2,315 vs $2,990)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $58,320/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,320 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
32% lower
165.4 vs 244.5 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Median Home Value
$1012k less
$669,200 vs $1,680,700
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$58,320
$174,506 vs $116,186/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clarita, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $669,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,315⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,186 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.2 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.7% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saugus Union | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,850 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.1% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clarita's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories. Santa Clarita wins 11 and Sunnyvale wins 12. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($669,200 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($116,186 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clarita, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.