Santa Clarita is situated 35 miles North West of Los Angles. It is the perfect example of a Hollywood town and is a great option for an expat planning on moving to California. The city was founded due to a drastic population in several unincorporated areas namely Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. These four areas were agglomerated into what is now the 23rd biggest city in California with a total population of about 210,000. However, the different areas still maintain their individual identities. You should know this if you plan on moving to Santa Clarita.
Is Santa Clarita, California a good place to live? Living in Santa Clarita reveals a city of incredible ethnic diversity. It also one of the healthiest cities in the country built for walking and cycling. There are excellent schools in Santa Clarita and a conducive environment to raise a family. The city is safe with a solid sense of community.
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If you are fond of the outdoors, looking to start a family and plan on living in California, then Santa Clarita is the perfect city for you. In fact, Santa Clarita received credit from Money Magazine in 2006 being named the 18th best place to live in the United States. The environment here is picturesquely described by rolling hills and blue skies which is why the city’s residents love the outdoors so much. The weather is also mild but the cost of living is high in Santa Clarita. The city enjoys moderate safety and should you lack anything, the big city is a short drive away.
Is Santa Clarita, California a Good place to live? Prons and cons.
Most of Santa Clarita’s neighborhoods can be generally described as nice. You will find some of the most luxurious homes in California here. However, based on what you are looking for neighborhoods can be differentiated. If neighborhoods in Santa Clarita are judged based on safety, income and quality of life, the best neighborhoods are San Marino, Calabasas, Aguora Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, South Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch and Westridge. The least favorite neighborhoods include Palmdale, Lancaster, Fillmore, San Fernando, Glendale, North Pasadena, Newhall, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley.
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The degree of crime in Santa Clarita is refreshingly low. The annual crime rate in Santa Clarita is 16 crimes per 1000 residents which is about half of both the average crime rate in California and the national average crime rate. The chances of you falling victim to a crime in Santa Clarita is 1 in 61. The violent crime rate in Santa Clarita is 2 per every 1000 residents and the property crime rate is 15 crimes per 1000 residents. Both the violent crime rate and property crime rate are well below the national mean making Santa Clarita safer than 63% of the cities in the United States.
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The public school system in Santa Clarita is made of five school districts. The Castaic Union School District offers elementary and secondary education for grades pre-K through eighth. Newhall School District manages the school system in Santa Clarita Valley and includes 10 elementary schools. Saugus Union School District serves students in grades K to 6. The school district operates 14 schools most of them with pre-school programs. Sulphur Springs School District manages 9 elementary schools in the Valley of Santa Clarita. The William S. Hart Union High School District serves grades 7 to 12. It consists of 16 schools with a total of about 20,000 students and is the largest school district in the city. Noteworthy institutions of higher learning include California Institute of the Arts, The Master’s College, College of the Canyons and Charter College.
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Santa Clarita’s infrastructure system is highly developed. The city is served by three major highways namely Interstate 5, California State Highway 14 and California State Highway 126. Also pertaining to road transport, MV Transportation offers an extensive bus service for mass transit in the city. The buses run every 15 or 30 minutes very efficiently. Passenger trains for commuters to Santa Clarita are managed by Metrolink. There are 3 train stations in the city where you can board a Metrolink train: Via Princessa Station, Santa Clarita Station and Newhall Station. All stations have vast parking lots which allow commuters to park their vehicles and ride the train. The city has many rough bike roads and walking avenues.
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Santa Clarita has put up several parks and operates a conclusive recreation program. The outdoor social scene is especially vibrant in Santa Clarita. There are about 34 parks in the city. There are also numerous sports facilities in Santa Clarita. You will also find golf courses, a mall and a skating rink all of which are social spaces in the city.
Is Santa Clarita, California a good place to work?
The rate of unemployment in Santa Clarita is 4% and is lower than both the state and national averages. The average salary per year for a resident in Santa Clarita is around $35,000 which is $5,000 above the national average and explanation for why the poverty rate in Santa Clarita is lower than in most of the cities in the USA.
The largest industries in Santa Clarita are Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Film Production and Educational Services. The highest paying industries are Utilities, Public Administration and Finance. The largest employers in the city according to Santa Clarita’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report are Six Flags Magic Mountain, Princess Cruises, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Quest Diagnostics, The Masters University, Boston Scientific, Woodward HRT, Aerospace Dynamics International, Advanced Bionics and California Institute of the Arts
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Is Santa Clarita, California a good place to buy a house?
Home prices in Santa Clarita are pretty high though. The average price of a home in the city is $461,500. Despite such high prices, the rate of home ownership in the city is 68% with the majority of the homes owned by a mortgage. Those that rent their properties pay an average of $1,757 per month.
The best neighborhoods are San Marino, Calabasas, Aguora Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, South Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch and Westridge. The worst neighborhoods include Palmdale, Lancaster, Fillmore, San Fernando, Glendale, North Pasadena, Newhall, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.
The average monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment in Santa Clarita is $1150. The average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1480. The average monthly rent for a three bedroom apartment is $1855. The average monthly rent for a four-bedroom apartment is $2400 and the average monthly rent for a five-bedroom apartment is $2980 a month.
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The average price of an apartment with a one bedroom in Santa Clarita is $356,000. The average price of an apartment with two bedrooms is $452,500. The average price of an apartment with three bedrooms is $498,780. The average price of an apartment with four bedrooms is $548,050. The average price of an apartment with five bedrooms is $605,000.
Is Santa Clarita, California a good place to retire?
Santa Clarita is a great city in which to retire especially if you are an outdoors person who was working in an office. You will get to enjoy the outdoors like in no other place if you retire in Santa Clarita. The city is also quite safe so you can rest assured your belongings will be secure. However, insurance is always advised. On the contrary, the high cost of the living and family driven atmosphere will not appease most retirees.
The retirement properties in Santa Clarita are just as dear as the other properties and even more so if you are looking for an assisted living facility. It would be a good idea to use the house prices and rental rates given above as a guide in your search.
Is Santa Clarita, California a good place to visit?
Santa Clarita is endowed with great natural attractions that are supplemented by the ingenious manmade invention. If you visit Santa Clarita you should expect to spend most of your time outdoors.
The dominant attraction in Santa Clarita is the Six Flags Magic Mountain Amusement Park with giant roller coaster rides. Other attractions include Placerita Canyon Nature Center, William S Hart Museum, Gibbon Conservation Center, Central Park, Towsley Canyon Park, Whitney Canyon Park, Castaic Lake State Recreation Area and Oat Mountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Santa Clarita, California?
The cost of living in the city of Santa Clarita is high and stands at 44% above the national average. Housing is particularly expensive and is more than double the US mean. Groceries and energy cost are also way above normal.
Is Santa Clarita a good place to invest in property?
The real estate market in Santa Clarita is very vibrant. The high house prices offer great opportunities for capital gains while the high rental rates offer the opportunity for great cash flow. Renting out property to film crews is also very profitable in Santa Clarita.
Is Santa Clarita a good place to raise a family?
Santa Clarita is a very family-friendly city. There are numerous parks in the city for children to play and get daily exercise. The schools in the city are plenty and above average. The city is also secure so you can rest assured of your family’s safety.
