Firstly why Santa-Clarita, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Santa-Clarita
• State: California
• Population: 227,437 people
• Santa-Clarita’s quick summary would be Famous for Six Flags Magic Mountain and the scenic Vasquez Rocks.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 12,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 11,000 annually
• Net Migration: 1000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 3,000
• Number of Homeless people: 300

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it offers great schools and family-friendly activities appealing to families

Perk #1: Santa-Clarita Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 36%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 63%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Hispanic
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $79,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Santa-Clarita is $82,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $3000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Santa-Clarita’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 160 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $5,145
• Property Tax %: 1.25%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,650
• Rent for an average house: $2,600
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Valencia
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Santa-Clarita, Valencia, Canyon-Country, Newhall, and probably could include Stevenson-Ranch
• Avg. Age of Homes in Santa-Clarita: 23 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 2.2%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Santa-Clarita’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Santa-Clarita are  Retail, Healthcare, and Tourism
• Santa-Clarita Job Scene: healthy job market in entertainment and retail
• The General Tech Scene: vibrant tech scene focused on digital media, health IT, and aerospace
• Santa-Clarita Resident’s pay $1,600 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Santa-Clarita: 9.5%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 160 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 10

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Santa-Clarita

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $170 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-5 provides major north-south connectivity through Santa Clarita
• Commute Time: 28 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: congestion on Newhall Ranch Road
• Transportation Score: 47 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Santa-Clarita: 180,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.8
• No. of Car Washes: 6 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Santa-Clarita: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 66 of 100
• Local Airport: Bob Hope

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Santa-Clarita’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Wildfires
• General Weather in Santa-Clarita is best described as has hot dry summers with temperatures exceeding 100°F and mild winters with occasional cold spells
• Winter Weather in Santa-Clarita i’d describe as mild and dry
• Spring Weather in Santa-Clarita can be described as warm and dry
• Summer’s in Santa-Clarita are mostly very hot and dry
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Santa-Clarita is usually warm and mostly sunny
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 39 days in summer
• Days in a row in Santa-Clarita below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 14 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality affected by surrounding development
• Santa-Clarita Winter Air generally good air quality influenced by urban developments

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Santa-Clarita Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Santa-Clarita 3
• While the number of trade schools inside Santa-Claritas’s city limits are 1
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Santa Clarita Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Santa-Clarita Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 10 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Santa-Clarita only Doctors is about 70
• Local Hospitals here is  4
• Full-time Santa-Clarita only Police Officers is about 180
• Crime Rate Index: 30/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Santa-Clarita’s Monthly utility bill average is $200
• Santa-Clarita’s Monthly Gym Membership: $65
• Santa-Clarita’s Water Quality Score: 74

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Santa-Clarita

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 9 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: close-knit community with family-friendly activities and parks
• You might enjoy local music events at parks and venues
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Santa-Clarita  has a variety of local bars and restaurants perfect for friendly gatherings and community events

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Santa-Clarita

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Offers family-centered restaurants and casual dining
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 40 scattered around Santa-Clarita
• The Popular Sports Team is Santa Clarita Valley Oilers
• Top Level Political Climate in Santa-Clarita can be described as conservative suburb focused on family-oriented values
• Santa-Clarita’s Longer standing religious establishment is Santa Clarita Baptist Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Santa-Clarita Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Santa-Clarita has 32 Parks?
• Central Park is Santa-Clarita’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Santa Clarita Farmers Market normally open Saturday 8am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, biking, and horseback riding

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Santa-Clarita Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Santa-Clarita can be described as steady suburban life with a focus on family activities
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Santa-Clarita visiting amusement parks going to local festivals attending community events
• The Cities people commute to from Santa-Clarita are Los-Angeles 34 miles away Palmdale 42 miles away Bakersfield 77 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Santa-Clarita or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: congestion on Newhall Ranch Road. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Santa-Clarita’s Wildfires risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Valencia is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Santa-Clarita are Los-Angeles 34 miles away Palmdale 42 miles away Bakersfield 77 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 30 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Santa-Clarita has 0 days in a row below freezing and 39 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Santa-Clarita people have an average (positive or negative) $3000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   300 homeless people living in Santa-Clarita. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general conservative suburb focused on family-oriented values could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Santa-Clarita.

Retiree & Senior Life in Santa-Clarita

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can might access property tax deferments alleviating financial burdens
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Willows
• Santa Clarita Senior Center provides diverse programs fitness classes and community engagement

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Santa-Clarita, California?

If Santa-Clarita, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Santa-Clarita, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!