Planning of moving to Santa Clarita, CA? We think you’ll enjoy living here, whether you’re relocating to be closer to Los Angeles, seeking respite in a smaller town, or simply want Six Flags Magic Mountain in your backyard. Many people move to Santa Clarita, which is located in Los Angeles County and just 30 minutes north of Los Angeles, for the 280 average days of sunshine, the expanding job market, low crime rates, and top-notch schools.
The sophisticated shopping and dining, year-round events, trendy festivals, and a plethora of outdoor activities that Santa Clarita has to offer are also enjoyed by residents, who are mostly families and young professionals. Quiet, suburban neighborhoods with well-kept public parks and walking paths make this city ideal for those looking for the best of both worlds: easy access to the excitement of Los Angeles while living in a medium-sized city with a small-town feel.
The city of Santa Clarita, which is located in Los Angeles County and has a population of about 209,489 people, offers both relaxation and excitement. The option to do a lot is just as appealing to those who live here as the option to kick back and do very little – that’s the laid-back SoCal mentality you’ll soon embrace. The majority of Santa Clarita residents are liberally minded families and young professionals who own their homes, have a median age of 37, and take advantage of the numerous hiking, cycling, and running trails nearby.
Pros
Weather
Outdoor Activities
Safety
Proximity to Los Angeles
Cons
Suburban Sprawl
The high cost of living index
Long commutes
Traffic
To assess housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare costs, Bestplaces uses a cost of living average index score of 100. The overall cost of living index score for Santa Clarita, CA is 164.6, which is significantly higher than the US average of 100 and just slightly lower than the state of California’s index score of 168.6.
Housing, with a score of nearly triple the national average at 293.4, and transportation, with a score of 130.7, are two of the higher individual costs that contribute to Santa Clarita’s higher score. To live comfortably in the Los Angeles County metro area, a family of four would need to earn at least $92,295 per year, according to the EPI Family Budget Calculator.
Santa Clarita’s unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, higher than the national average of 3.9 percent, but the city’s higher-than-average per capita and median household income suggest a thriving economy. Santa Clarita’s job market has grown by 0.7 percent in the last year, and future job growth is forecast to be 33.9 percent over the next ten years, higher than the national average of 33.5 percent. The median household income is $90,544 (the US average is $57,652), and the income per capita is $36,448 (the US average is $31,177), according to bestplaces
The job market in Santa Clarita is just as promising. Aerospace manufacturing, biomedical engineering, entertainment, and technology are the principal industries. Santa Clarita has been the site of some of the most significant biomedical breakthroughs. Nearly a dozen TV shows and movies have been filmed in this city, which has 20 sound stages and movie ranches. If you’re looking for a job in one of those fields, you’ll have no problem finding one.
The College of the Canyons, the William S Hart Union School District, the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Boston Scientific, and, of course, Six Flags Magic Mountain are all major employers in Santa Clarita. Job seekers in the medical or engineering fields may rely on direct professional referrals, recruiters, and networking opportunities to compete for high-paying jobs. If you’re already employed at a satellite office, location transfers are a common way to keep your job. Otherwise, job seekers should meet hiring managers at local career fairs, online job-matching sites such as LinkedIn or Indeed, and professional networking events.
Income Tax – The average income tax rate in the United States is 4.6 percent. Residents of Santa Clarita have a rate of nearly double that, at 9.3 percent.
Sales Tax – Santa Clarita’s consolidated state, county, and local sales tax rate is 9.5 percent. The California state sales tax is 6%, the Los Angeles County sales tax is 0.25 percent, and there is a 3.25 percent special city tax. The general sales tax rate in the United States is 7.25 percent, so Santa Clarita’s rate is on the high end.
Property Tax – The property tax rate in Los Angeles County is 0.755 percent. If your house is worth $600,000, you can expect to pay $4,530 in property taxes per year.
In Santa Clarita, 70% of residents own their homes. According to a realtor in November 2019, the median home list price for Santa Clarita is $595,000. Bestplaces reports the average monthly rental price for a two-bedroom apartment is $2,319, and rentcafe lists the three least expensive rental neighborhoods are Newhall, Canyon Country, and Villa Metro, coming in under $2,000 per month.
Seventy percent of Santa Clarita residents own their homes. According to realtor.com, the median home list price in Santa Clarita in November 2019 was $595,000. According to Bestplaces, the average monthly rental price for a two-bedroom apartment is $2,319, and rentcafe lists Newhall, Canyon Country, and Villa Metro as the three least expensive rental neighborhoods, all of which are under $2,000 per month.
What to do:
Santa Clarita is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true! This area, particularly in the bordering San Gabriel Mountains, has nearly perfect year-round weather and offers great outdoor options. The numerous hiking trails will delight walkers, hikers, and mountain bikers, and those looking to get into the water will find two lovely lakes nearby: Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lake, which offer boating, jet skiing, fishing, and kayaking.
Six Flags Magic Mountain, a large amusement park with thrill rides, Placerita Canyon Nature Center, a historic site with historic trails, the Gibbon Conservation Center, which houses more than 40 critically endangered gibbon apes, and Pulchella Winery, which Wine Enthusiast Magazine ranked as having the best zinfandel on the entire California Central Coast, are just a few of the major attractions in Santa Clarita.
Weekly farmers’ markets, live music at The Canyon, jazz nights, garden walks, chili cook-offs, fall festivals, and other events are all on the calendar in Santa Clarita. While Santa Clarita does not have any professional sports teams of its own, you can catch a Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, or Chargers game in Los Angeles, which is only a 30-minute drive south. So if you’re moving alone or with your family, you’ll never be bored.
Is Santa Clarita, California, beckoning you? Then let us assist you in getting to your new residence! Click ‘Find Santa Clarita Movers,’ and we’ll provide you with free moving quotes from the best vetted and licensed moving companies in the area.