Santa Clarita 70 Excellent
Santa Clarita Livability #228 ranked city in California#6,718 ranked city in the USARanks better than 77% of areas

Santa Clarita, CA - Awesometown

Santa Clarita, CA, known as 'Awesometown,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Los Angeles and Burbank enhance its status as a central point in the region. Santa Clarita's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.

Santa Clarita is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Six Flags Magic Mountain, the historic William S. Hart Museum, and the scenic Placerita Canyon Nature Center. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Central Park to the bustling Westfield Valencia Town Center, known for its shopping and dining. Santa Clarita's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from California cuisine to international dishes.

Annual events such as the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival and the Santa Clarita Marathon highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Santa Clarita's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like California Institute of the Arts contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in Santa Clarita is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center and the Main Street Gallery are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Santa Clarita provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.

Santa Clarita’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Santa Clarita Blue Heat (WPSL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Santa Clarita include healthcare, education, and entertainment, with significant employers such as Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Six Flags Magic Mountain driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and Metrolink, making commuting convenient for residents.

Pros and Cons of Living in Santa Clarita

PROS
  • Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Cost Of Living

    This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.

  • Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

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What's it like Living in Santa Clarita?

Santa Clarita, California is a big city with a population of 212,519 inhabitants. In Santa Clarita, there are 3,004 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. If we look at the most recent Census, Santa Clarita is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Asian and Black. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Santa Clarita are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 20% of the population also speak Spanish. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Santa Clarita entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 37 minutes.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Santa Clarita, California. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like crime, health & safety, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Santa Clarita and in the areas around Santa Clarita is a much easier task.

Santa Clarita, CA receives 71/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #230 in California and #5,643 in the USA. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Santa Clarita has received high marks for crime (A+), education (B+), employment (A+) and housing (B+). On a more negative note, Santa Clarita does not have favorable ranks for the following: cost of living (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Santa Clarita has a violent crime rate of 163 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Santa Clarita market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Santa Clarita real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Santa Clarita. The median home price for Santa Clarita homes is $564,500, which is 37.9% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Santa Clarita, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.6, which is 12.5% lower than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Santa Clarita

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Compare Santa Clarita, CA Livability

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      Santa Clarita transportation information

      Statistic Santa Clarita California National
      Average one way commute37min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.4%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.9%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.6%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.8%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home8.8%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Santa Clarita, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).