Moving to Santa Clarita, CA: 2026 Relocation Guide

Is Santa Clarita a good place to live?

Whether Santa Clarita suits you comes down to budget, commute and home type, and the numbers are public. The city has 230,428 residents (City of Santa Clarita, January 1, 2025). It was incorporated on December 15, 1987, and now covers more than 73 square miles. The wider Santa Clarita Valley has about 300,000 residents across 520 square miles, and its median household income is $139,000, against $106,600 for Los Angeles County (SCVEDC, 2025 Economic Outlook). The median home sale price in the valley was about $800,000 over the past year (closed sales, Oct 2025–Sep 2026).

Where is Santa Clarita, and how far is it from Los Angeles?

The Santa Clarita Valley is in northern Los Angeles County, about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles (SCVEDC). Interstate 5 and State Route 14 connect it south to the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. SR-14 also continues to Palmdale and Lancaster, and State Route 126 leads to Ventura County (SCVEDC regional map).

The City of Santa Clarita takes in Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus and Valencia. Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Sunset Pointe, Tesoro, Val Verde, Westridge, Newhall Ranch and Agua Dulce are unincorporated communities next to the city (SCVEDC). That distinction matters for some county programs; see first-time buyer programs.

How long is the train from Santa Clarita to Union Station?

Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line takes 52 to 70 minutes from the valley's four stations to L.A. Union Station on weekdays, under the timetable effective May 4, 2026.

There are 12 weekday trains toward Los Angeles. The first leaves Vista Canyon at 5:10 a.m., and departures run roughly hourly through the morning. Trains also stop at Sylmar/San Fernando, Sun Valley, Burbank Airport–North, Burbank–Downtown and Glendale. Return trains leave Union Station between 6:39 a.m. and 7:39 p.m. Check metrolinktrains.com for current times before you rely on a schedule.

What are the communities in Santa Clarita?

Home buyers usually compare six communities: Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch and Castaic. Valley sales are recorded under these community names, which don't match city limits exactly.

Closed residential sales, Oct 2025–Sep 2026.

Medians move with the mix of homes sold, so compare the single-family column as well as the overall median.

• Valencia had the most sales. About a third were condos or townhomes (299 of 868), and 89% of sales carried HOA dues. The median home was built in 1999.
• Saugus had a median of four bedrooms and 1,877 sq ft. Fewer than a quarter of sales were condos or townhomes.
• Canyon Country had the widest price spread: the 10th percentile sale was $371,000 and the 90th was $1,285,000. That range runs from condos (median $412,000) to custom homes in areas such as Sand Canyon.
• Newhall has the valley's oldest housing (median year built 1974). Its overall median fell from $700,000 to $590,000 year over year, mostly because more condos sold. It also includes Friendly Valley, an age-restricted community; see 55+ communities.
• Stevenson Ranch had the highest median. The typical home there has four bedrooms and 2,605 sq ft, and the median year built is 1997.
• Castaic had only 11 condo or townhome sales out of 225. Just 41% of its sales carried HOA dues, the lowest share of the six.

For tract-level detail, see Santa Clarita neighborhoods and Saugus vs. Valencia.

How much does it cost to live in Santa Clarita?

Housing is the biggest cost. The valley-wide median sale price was $799,000, single-family homes ran $875,000 and condos and townhomes $535,000 (closed sales, Oct 2025–Sep 2026). Prices have eased slightly: the median was $810,000 in the prior 12 months, and homes now take a median 30 days to sell, up from 26. On October 7, 2026, there were 798 active listings at a median list price of $750,000.

Other housing costs to plan for:

• HOA dues: 69% of sales carried an HOA, with a median of $245 a month. Condo and townhome dues are higher, with a median of $430 (Oct 2025–Sep 2026).
• Mello-Roos: many newer tracts sit in a Community Facilities District, which adds a special tax to the property tax bill. Listing data doesn't show these amounts. Check the preliminary title report, the Los Angeles County property tax bill and the seller's disclosures for any home you're considering. The new construction guide explains what to look for.
• Cash buyers: 19% of valley sales closed without a loan, and 19% used FHA or VA financing.

First-time buyers can compare assistance options in First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Santa Clarita and the condo and townhome guide.

Which school districts serve Santa Clarita?

Public schools in the valley are split between one high school district and four elementary districts.

• William S. Hart Union High School District (grades 7–12) has more than 20,000 students. It runs seven comprehensive high schools (Canyon, Castaic, Golden Valley, Hart, Saugus, Valencia and West Ranch), six junior highs and an early college high school.
• Saugus Union School District (preschool–6th grade) has over 9,200 students in 14 elementary schools and an early learning academy.
• Newhall School District runs 10 elementary schools, including Stevenson Ranch Elementary, Pico Canyon and Valencia Valley.
• Sulphur Springs Union School District runs 10 community schools, including Canyon Springs, Fair Oaks Ranch, Mint Canyon and Pinetree, plus a state preschool.
• Castaic Union School District runs Castaic, Live Oak and Northlake Hills elementary schools and Castaic Middle School.

The high schools most often listed on sales from October 2024 to September 2026 were Valencia High for Valencia and Castaic, Saugus High for Saugus, Canyon High for Canyon Country, Hart High for Newhall and West Ranch High for Stevenson Ranch. Attendance boundaries change, so confirm any address with the district before you buy.

What are crime figures in Santa Clarita?

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Santa Clarita Valley Station recorded 2,640 Part I crimes in the City of Santa Clarita in 2025, down 11.7% from 2,990 in 2024.

LASD Santa Clarita Valley Station, Part I crimes, city area only (unincorporated areas are reported separately).

Measured against the city's January 2025 population, that is about 11.5 Part I crimes per 1,000 residents. The figures are citywide; LASD does not publish them by neighborhood.

What parks and trails does Santa Clarita have?

The city has about 80 miles of trails and 20 miles of paseos, which are off-street paths built for walking, biking and commuting (City of Santa Clarita Parks Division). The regional river trail is the backbone of the network, with trailheads at Iron Horse, Promenade, Auto Center, South Fork, Camp Plenty Road and Lost Canyon Road. Bike lockers are available at the Via Princessa, Santa Clarita and Jan Heidt Metrolink stations.

The city counted 40 parks in 2026. Recent projects include new multi-sport fields and pickleball courts at Via Princessa Park and an outdoor exercise staircase.

What is the weather like in Santa Clarita?

Summers are hot and dry, and nearly all rain falls in winter. At NOAA's Newhall 5 NW station (1991–2020 normals):

• August's average high is 95.8°F. December's average high is 62.4°F, and December–February lows average 44–47°F.
• Annual precipitation averages 16.76 inches. About 85% of it falls from December through March, and June through September average close to none.

Who are the major employers in Santa Clarita?

The valley has about 97,000 local jobs (SCVEDC, 2025 Economic Outlook). The largest employers are:

SCVEDC Top Employers list.

SCVEDC lists the area's main industries as aerospace and defense, bioscience and medical devices, advanced manufacturing, digital media and entertainment, IT, and corporate and professional services. Other large employers include Princess Cruises, Boston Scientific, Advanced Bionics, Woodward HRT and The Master's University.

What is there to do in Santa Clarita?

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia is the valley's best-known attraction and its largest private employer. Beyond it, the trail and paseo network and the city's parks cover most everyday recreation. Higher education options include College of the Canyons, CalArts and The Master's University.

How do you plan a move to Santa Clarita?

1. Choose a community by commute. Pick freeway access (I-5 or SR-14) or a Metrolink station first, then compare community prices in the table above.
2. Check the school district by address.
3. Confirm HOA dues and any Mello-Roos tax before you set a budget.
4. Get pre-approved, and look at first-time buyer programs if they apply to you.

Racquel Wilder is a relocation specialist with Pinnacle Estate Properties in Valencia. For how relocation help works, read what a Santa Clarita relocation specialist does and how relocation specialists help Santa Clarita buyers.