Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clarita, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 21 categories
Santa Clarita
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,175 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($305,600 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1003/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,315)
90% less violent crime than Santa Clarita
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $53,175/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$53,175
$116,186 vs $63,011/yr
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
90% lower
16.5 vs 165.4 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$364k less
$305,600 vs $669,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clarita, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $669,200⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,315⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,186 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.2 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.7% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saugus Union | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,850 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clarita's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 21 categories. Santa Clarita wins 13 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($669,200 vs $305,600 median home), income ($116,186 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clarita, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.