Moving from Santa Clarita, CA to Rialto, CA
It is a 80 mi drive, roughly 1h 38m, between Santa Clarita, CA and Rialto, CA. At mid-range distance you typically see real gaps open up on cost of living, home values, and climate — not just scenery. This page assembles the comparison from federal data sources and Zillow Research for a single-page view of the move.
80 mi · 1h 38m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 210, CA 210, CA 14 |
| Major cities en route | Lancaster, Palmdale, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Santa Clarita | Rialto | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 113.566 | 106.442 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 158.589 | 148.641 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 106.623 | 101.431 | 100.0 |
| Services | 170.433 | 129.312 | 100.0 |
Moderate COL drop: 6.3% cheaper overall in Rialto than Santa Clarita on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
6.3% drop on the typical home value — a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.
YoY change: Santa Clarita -2.2%, Rialto -0.8%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Santa Clarita | Rialto |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 66°F | 67°F |
| January avg low | 47°F | 44°F |
| July avg high | 94°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 16.8" | 9.9" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Effectively snow-free year in Rialto — NOAA normals show near-zero annual snowfall.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: NEWHALL 5NW, CA US, RIVERSIDE CITRUS EXP, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Santa Clarita | Rialto |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 229,021 | 103,866 |
| Median household income | $119,926 | $85,521 |
| Median age | 38.1 | 31.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 9.2% |
| Avg household size | 3.04 | 3.87 |
Rialto households earn about 6.3% less than Santa Clarita at the median — $119,926 → $85,521 on ACS 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Rialto MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 267,890 | $47,210 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 177,100 | $47,040 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 167,590 | $34,570 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 136,950 | $36,420 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 115,940 | $32,240 |
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 Rialto average 94°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Dry climate: Rialto sees only 9.9 in of precipitation a year. A humidifier helps keep wood furniture from cracking and is easier on skin and sinuses.
- 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 the job market in Rialto compare to Santa Clarita?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $47,450 in the Rialto MSA vs $50,490 in the Santa Clarita MSA, on total employment of 1,661,860 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
Is Rialto more expensive than Santa Clarita?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Rialto is 6.3% lower than Santa Clarita (106.442 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How far is Rialto, CA from Santa Clarita, CA?
The driving distance is 80 mi and the route typically takes 1h 38m via I 210 and CA 210. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
When is the best time to move from Santa Clarita to Rialto?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 80 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does household income compare in Santa Clarita vs Rialto?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $85,521 in Rialto vs $119,926 in Santa Clarita — a 28.7% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How much do homes cost in Rialto compared to Santa Clarita?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $588,566 in Rialto vs $802,016 in Santa Clarita — a 26.6% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
What is the climate difference between Santa Clarita and Rialto?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 66.6°F in Rialto vs 65.5°F in Santa Clarita (1.1°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.1 in. Annual precipitation: 9.9 in vs 16.8 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Santa Clarita.
City profiles: Santa Clarita, CA · Rialto, CA.