Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clarita, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 14 of 22 categories
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
Westminster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Westminster
Households earn $35,915 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $108k less ($669,200 vs $777,100)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Westminster, CA
Pros
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,977 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Smaller class sizes — 22.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $35,915/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$35,915
$116,186 vs $80,271/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
62% lower
165.4 vs 436.2 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Median Home Value
$108k less
$669,200 vs $777,100
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clarita, CA | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,315⚠ High | $1,977⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,186 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.2 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.7% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saugus Union | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,850 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.1% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clarita's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 14 of 22 categories. Santa Clarita wins 14 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($669,200 vs $777,100 median home), income ($116,186 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clarita, CA and Westminster, CA are about 54 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.