Santa Clarita, CA vs Vacaville, CA

Vacaville is moderately more affordable than Santa Clarita, with a 12.9% lower cost of living index. Santa Clarita scores 175 compared to 155 for Vacaville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Santa Clarita can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,486/month compared to $2,227/month in Vacaville — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Vacaville is more affordable at $596,700 median vs $721,000.

Median household income in Santa Clarita is $119,926 compared to $108,580 in Vacaville (+10.4%). The higher salaries in Santa Clarita partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Santa Clarita spend roughly 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 24.6% in Vacaville.

Climate-wise, Santa Clarita is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 62.1°F in Vacaville. Vacaville receives more rainfall at 24.8" per year compared to 13.4" in Santa Clarita.