Lakewood, CA vs Santa Clarita, CA

Lakewood, CA and Santa Clarita, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Lakewood scores 174 while Santa Clarita scores 175 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lakewood is $2,324/month compared to $2,486/month in Santa Clarita — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lakewood has cheaper rent, Santa Clarita actually has lower median home values ($721,000 vs $774,100).

Median household income in Lakewood is $116,794 compared to $119,926 in Santa Clarita (-2.6%). While Santa Clarita is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lakewood spend roughly 23.9% of their income on rent, less than the 24.9% in Santa Clarita.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 66.6°F). Santa Clarita receives more rainfall at 13.4" per year compared to 12" in Lakewood.