Santa Clarita, CA 55+ active adult communities & homes for sale - Page 5

Santa Clarita is the third largest city in the state and a suburb of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Retirees are attracted to this city because of the beautiful scenery, warm weather, and opportunities for recreation and entertainment. Santa Clarita is a perfect combination of nature and medium-sized city life.

Climate & Geography

Santa Clarita's climate is a hot-summer Mediterranean type, therefore summers are hot and dry, while winters are cool with moderate precipitation. Residents can expect much less rainfall than the national average, no snowfall, and approximately 280 sunny days throughout each year.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment In Santa Clarita

As one of the largest cities in California, Santa Clarita provides residents with numerous recreation and entertainment opportunities. Outdoor lovers can take advantage of the year-round pleasant weather by visiting one of the 35 parks located within the city. The largest, Central Park, has several amenities including sports courts and fields, a community garden, and a dog park. The surrounding mountain ranges are also popular sites for hiking and camping.

While there is plenty of local shopping and dining to be found, there are also several large shopping and commercial centers within the city. The city also hosts plenty of community events including a marathon, a summer concert series, seasonal parades, festivals, and much, much more.

Residents who are looking for a change of pace can reach downtown Los Angeles in about an hour. Taking a weekend getaway to San Diego, which can be reached in about four hours, is also popular with residents.

Santa Clarita Cost of Living & Taxes

The overall cost of living in Santa Clarita is higher than the national average, but slightly lower than the state average. Like most of California, the primary factor is the extremely high cost of homes and housing. However, grocery, utility, and transportation costs are all above average as well. Health care costs are the only index that is below average.

California is typically not considered tax friendly for retirees. Though the state does not tax Social Security benefits, all other forms of retirement income are taxed at ordinary rates. There is a special exemption available for residents who are 65+ that allows them to double that standard exemption to a maximum of $516 depending on filing status. Property tax rates are relatively low in the state, but due to the high cost of homes this can be a very significant expense. However, this is offset slightly by a homeowners' exemption that reduces the taxable value of a home for qualifying residents.

Health Care In Santa Clarita

The Los Angeles metro area scores well on Gallup’s Well-Being Index, ranking in the top 45 communities.

There are two medical centers within 10 miles of Santa Clarita that are rated high performing by U.S. News. They are Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, the latter of which is also regionally ranked.