Living in Santa Clarita, CA
Mid-size city in California
Santa Clarita is a mid-size city in California, home to about 229,000 people, with 5.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Santa Clarita a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Strong healthcare: 15 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Big job market: about 5.8 million people live within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.93% property tax
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $738k, and rent is $3,300 a month
- Hot summers: highs around 92°F
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Santa Clarita ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Santa Clarita: common questions
What is the cost of living in Santa Clarita?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $738k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,300 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 114, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Santa Clarita?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.93% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Santa Clarita safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Santa Clarita?
Santa Clarita has mild winters: winter days average around 63°F and summer days around 92°F.
Does Santa Clarita get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 15 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.88 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Santa Clarita?
The nearest major airport is BUR, about 17 mi away.
How Santa Clarita scores
Each bar compares Santa Clarita with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Santa Clarita right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.