Being in the TMZ has made the city an entertainment hub
Bucking the population decline trend of broader California, Santa Clarita is a growing city of about 230,000 people, which makes it the third-largest city in Los Angeles County. “What makes us special is we’re close to LA, but it really feels like a world away because we’re a quiet, close-knit community with a high quality of life,” says Carrie Lujan, communications director with the city. Located in what’s known as the Thirty Mile Zone, the area in which production studios don’t have to pay out-of-town rates, the city has become a hub for the entertainment industry. “Santa Clarita has become known as Hollywood North,” Lujan says. “There are more than 6,000 residents employed by the entertainment industry.” Beyond its Hollywood status, Santa Clarita has broad appeal for homebuyers looking for Blue Ribbon schools and outdoor access. The city maintains dozens of parks and cultivated green spaces and is surrounded by mountains.
Explore the Lost Boys Bridge in Santa Clarita, featured in the 1987 movie The Lost Boys.
The 14 and 5 freeways connect Santa Clarita to the rest of Southern California.
The student population of Mcgrath Elementary is 492, and the school serves K-6.
Santa Clarita is attractive to homebuyers because of its great schools and close access to open space.
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Surrounded by three mountain ranges, with over 150 miles of trails
Bounded by the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, the Santa Susana Mountains to the south and west, and the Sierra Pelona Mountains to the north, Santa Clarita and its 13,000 acres of open space is an outdoor lover's dream. "There are some places where you can get views of LA, the roller coasters from Six Flags, and on a clear day, you can see all the way to the ocean," Lujan says. Known for beautiful views of the mountains and valleys, Whitney Canyon Park is situated on nearly 450 acres and has hiking, biking and horseback riding trails winding along a creek and through oak woods. The hike to the waterfall is worth the rocky route. It's a moderately challenging trail with plenty of shade.
Walking is the preferred mode of transportation in Santa Clarita. "When the community began to develop in the 1950s and '60s, they built paseos everywhere, especially in Valencia, so you can connect to neighborhood parks, schools and HOA clubhouses without ever crossing the street," Lujan says. "We've made such an effort to continue that trail connectivity. We have over 150 miles of multiuse trails and 20 miles of paseos." The trails that run along the Santa Clara River go all over the city, which is also rich in community parks and dedicated open space. "We just opened our 38th park, and we plan to add two more by the end of 2025," Lujan says. William S. Hart Park will be transferred to the city in the summer of 2025 and is the site of the Santa Clarita History Center. "There are historical buildings, a train, a petting zoo, and there's actually a herd of bison at Hart Park," Lujan says.
Guests from all over come to Santa Clarita to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Take a nice walk and explore part of the beautiful 442-acre Whitney Canyon Park in Santa Clarita.
Visitors to Santa Clarita's Hart Park will find historic buildings, a train, a petting zoo, and a bison herd.
Santa Clarita boasts 20 miles of paseos that residents can take advantage of.
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Cowboy Festival is the highlight of an annual calendar of events
Santa Clarita cultivates a small-town feel through a robust calendar of community events. The Cowboy Festival, usually held in April, pays tribute to the old silent westerns once filmed in the city. “There is live music, cowboy cuisine, fine western art, dancing and really everything cowboy,” Lujan says. Concerts in the Park will celebrate its 35th year in 2025. The annual tribute band concert series, held at Central Park, is a hometown favorite. “People will get there first thing in the morning to reserve their space,” Lujan says. Light Up Main Street in Old Town Newhall takes place each December. “Our city council flips the switch to light up the Christmas tree, while residents enjoy festive activities and holiday shopping up and down Main Street,” Lujan says.
A cowboy shows off his tricks while visitors walk by at the Cowboy Festival in Newhall.
Guests are hyped up as the performance begins at the Concerts in the Park.
Guests can let loose at the Senses Block Party in Newhall.
The snacks come out and families enjoy each other's company at Cinemas in the Park.
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Home prices are more than double the national average
Housing prices in Santa Clarita are high by national standards but less expensive than in broader California, particularly Los Angeles. In August 2024, the median price in the city was around $800,000, nearly double the national median. That’s compared to $900,000 in the rest of the state and just over $1 million in LA. Though it has a relatively high cost of entry by national standards, buying a home in Santa Clarita is a good investment — home prices were up over 6% annually in late summer 2024. "We're fortunate to have space here for new housing developments. A lot of cities are already built out, but we've done a lot of thoughtful development here," Lujan says. "Vista Canyon includes housing, apartments, office space and a beautiful community park." Neighborhoods like Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall and Valencia are more contemporary than many areas in and around LA, having been largely built out in the 1980s. However, there are many pockets of midcentury architecture. Farmhouses and estates are on large lots in the rural outskirts of Canyon Country. Contemporary Spanish-style villas in gated communities highlight Valencia’s newest homes. Large tract homes in Saugus trade lot space for square footage. And Mediterranean-style condos are among the offerings in Newhall.
New developments, like Vista Canyon, are constantly popping up in Santa Clarita.
The mix of suburban charm and modern luxury makes Santa Clarita homes so special.
You can find various craftsman homes and ranch-style retreats in Santa Clarita.
Homes on larger estates can be found in the rural areas of Santa Clarita.
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Shopping in Valencia and dining in Old Town Newhall
"There are commercial stretches all over the city. Valencia Town Center is our mall, and changes and upgrades are coming to that area," Lujan says. The classic California mall has over 140 retailers, including Macy's, Anthropologie and Lululemon, and crowd-pleasing eateries like The Cheesecake Factory. "One of the places we're really proud of and focused on revitalizing is Old Town Newhall. It's Santa Clarita’s oldest and most historic area," Lujan says. There are breakfast places and coffee shops among the many businesses in Old Town. Egg Plantation is a cozy cafe that serves over 100 omelets, and Honu Coffee has a great atmosphere and a cozy loft. The area has become a mini arts and culture hotspot. On Main Street is Canyon Theatre Guild, a performing arts theater that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. The MAIN, another performance theater known to host comedy shows, is on the same block. A few blocks south, on Sixth Street, the Santa Clarita's Artist's Association is a gallery where local artists showcase their work in exhibitions.
The Valencia Town Center is the Santa Clarita's mall.
Customers can enjoy coffee and conversation in Honu Coffee's loft in Santa Clarita.
The Canyon Theatre Guild celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024 in Santa Clarita.
The Canyon Theater Guild and Santa Clarita Artist's Association highlight local artists.
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William H. Hart Union is one of the best school districts in the state
William S. Hart Union is in California’s top 35 districts and is rated an A-plus by Niche. Their focus on technical education, with 26 unique career pathways, draws in 21,000 students over 18 campuses. Smaller districts are also successful, spread across each section of the city. Saugus Union serves 10,000 northernmost students, rated a B-plus by Niche, and B-rated Sulphur Springs Union serves 5,000 easternmost students. To the southwest, all the schools in Newall School District have earned California Distinguished School honors, and it gets a B-plus from Niche. High school students might advance to nearby College of the Canyons, where the Workforce & Economic Advancement Division generates $4 million annually through technical training. “We have an excellent school system here — that’s why I brought my family here,” Lujan says. “We’re known for Blue Ribbon schools, and College of the Canyons is one of the top community colleges in the area, along with California Institute of the Arts and The Master’s University.”
Academy Of The Canyons is located in the Valencia neighborhood in Santa Clarita.
Your kids might attend Valencia High school, close to the Santa Clarita.
A mural at Highlands Elementary School in Santa Clarita, CA.
Mint Canyon Community Elementary School serves students in Canyon Country, Santa Clarita.
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Traveling to Los Angeles can take as long as two hours
Santa Clarita has direct highway access, as Interstate 5 bounds the city on its west side and the Antelope Valley Freeway, also known as state Route 14, bounds the east side. Though many people work locally, downtown Los Angeles is about 30 miles south, a drive that can take up to two hours during rush hours. "Traffic continues to be one of the biggest concerns for our residents, but we don't have the same issues that a lot of LA County does; it's comparatively more manageable here," Lujan says. Local leaders issued the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan in 2020 to combat traffic and are seeking funding for more bike lanes, neighborhood paseos and other walking trails. Bus routes operated by City of Santa Clarita Transit are expected to expand in the coming decade. "We like to think the city could become car-optional for local travel down the line. Vista Canyon was developed as a walkable, mixed-use community," Lujan says. The Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line has recently expanded, so commuters can travel via train to Los Angeles Union Station and Los Angeles International Airport, about 40 miles south. Hollywood Burbank Airport is only about 20 miles away, but that's for domestic flights only. The city has many medical facilities, including Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Santa Clarita Medical Center, Providence Medical Institute and City of Hope Santa Clarita.
Very low crime and wildfire mitigation efforts at the city and county levels
Santa Clarita is one of the safest cities in California and the U.S. overall. Unlike many cities, Santa Clarita did not see much of an uptick in crime during and post-pandemic — numbers have remained steady with only minor peaks and valleys. Since 2022, there have been about 40 violent crimes per 100,000 residents committed each month, compared to about 100 in California and 110 nationally. Property crime is slightly higher but still well below state and national numbers. Since 2022, about 100 property crimes per 100,000 people have been committed each month, compared to about 200 in California and 150 nationally.
Because it’s in Southern California, the city has about 280 days of sunshine a year and mild winters. However, its dry heat and droughts can be dangerous during summer’s wildfire season. The Rye Fire in 2017 threatened over 5,000 structures in town; 2019’s Tick Fire led to 22 destroyed buildings and an evacuation in Canyon Country. “We’ve made it a priority to have open space around the city, which means fire risk, but the LA County Fire Department is on it quickly, should a wildfire break out here,” Lujan says. “We engage in prevention efforts too. Not long ago, we had a herd of 400 goats roaming our open space to take down some of the brush.”
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