Moving from Palmdale, CA to Simi Valley, CA
Moving from Palmdale, CA to Simi Valley, CA covers 57 mi and about 1h 11m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully — the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.
57 mi · 1h 11m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | CA 14, CA 118, US 6 HIST |
| Major cities en route | Lancaster, El Monte, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Pasadena |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Palmdale | Simi Valley | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 113.566 | 110.534 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 158.589 | 152.925 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 106.623 | 105.168 | 100.0 |
| Services | 170.433 | 171.096 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in Simi Valley and Palmdale is within ±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) — plan your budget on category-level differences instead.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Typical home value in Simi Valley is 2.7% above Palmdale — $501,257 vs $844,909 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03). Budget the mortgage math early.
YoY change: Palmdale -1.3%, Simi Valley -2.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Palmdale | Simi Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 64°F | 66°F |
| January avg low | 35°F | 43°F |
| July avg high | 98°F | 95°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 7.3" | 16.4" |
Annual average temperatures in Palmdale (63.6°F) and Simi Valley (66.3°F) stay within 5°F of each other (NOAA normals).
Simi Valley gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: PALMDALE, CA US, WOODLAND HILLS PIERCE COLLEGE, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Palmdale | Simi Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 165,487 | 125,769 |
| Median household income | $81,151 | $117,703 |
| Median age | 33.2 | 41.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 24.9% |
| Avg household size | 3.56 | 2.84 |
Median household income in Simi Valley is 2.7% above Palmdale ($81,151 vs $117,703, ACS 5-year 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Simi Valley MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 35,690 | $47,840 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 33,940 | $34,820 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 29,050 | $37,470 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 23,520 | $39,670 |
| Management Occupations | 20,990 | $124,680 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Simi Valley average 95°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October — register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How does household income compare in Palmdale vs Simi Valley?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $117,703 in Simi Valley vs $81,151 in Palmdale — a 45.0% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is Simi Valley, CA from Palmdale, CA?
The driving distance is 57 mi and the route typically takes 1h 11m via CA 14 and CA 118. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
When is the best time to move from Palmdale to Simi Valley?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 57 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does the job market in Simi Valley compare to Palmdale?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,380 in the Simi Valley MSA vs $50,490 in the Palmdale MSA, on total employment of 315,720 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
Is Simi Valley more expensive than Palmdale?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Simi Valley is 2.7% lower than Palmdale (110.534 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in Simi Valley compared to Palmdale?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $844,909 in Simi Valley vs $501,257 in Palmdale — a 68.6% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
What is the climate difference between Palmdale and Simi Valley?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 66.3°F in Simi Valley vs 63.6°F in Palmdale (2.7°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 16.4 in vs 7.3 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Palmdale.
City profiles: Palmdale, CA · Simi Valley, CA.