Spanish for “Saint Clair”, Santa Clara is a large suburban city, adjacent to San Jose. Also known as the “mission city”, owing to it being centered around the mission of Santa Clara, Santa Clara is an affluent and hip city that is right up there with Redwood City as centers of the Bay Area’s tech industry, with industry giants such as Intel and Nvidia both being headquartered here. Born out of a settlement around the newly-established Santa Clara mission in the 18th century, Santa Clara became a beautiful, tech-oriented city. The result is a community just as cultured and rich as you’d expect, with all sorts of wonderful attractions, restaurants, shopping, communities, and more. This rich city attracts many notable people, including Smash Mouth vocalist Steve Harwell and professional beach volleyball player Kerri Jennings.
Santa Clara, CA Population & Demographics
Santa Clara has a population of 130,371 distributed over 18.2 miles at a population density of about 7,000 people per square mile. The median age here is 33.7, a few years younger than the California average of 37. The median household income in Santa Clara is $147,507, which is nearly double the average household income for the state of California, being $80,440.
The racial demographics of Santa Clara’s population are mostly Asian, making up 46% of the city’s population. Whites make up 21% of the population, while Hispanics constitute 16%. Santa Clara’s gender ratio is skewed towards men, at 53%.
Thinking about moving to this area, but wondering if Santa Clara is a safe place to live? It’s true that Santa Clara has a crime problem, with its total crime rate being 36% higher than the national average. However, this is only due to property crime, like most of San Francisco – the violent crime rate here is actually 63% lower than the average. Santa Clara is a very safe place to live. The city of Santa Clara is served by the Santa Clara Police Department.
Cost of Living in Santa Clara, CA
That Santa Clara is an affluent community should be no surprise at all, with the cost of living here being 114% higher than the average in the United States, according to Payscale. The median home price in Santa Clara is $1,249,100, which is nearly triple the average California home price of $568,500. Upon moving to Santa Clara, you’ll find that there are few things that won’t cost more than the average, such as groceries, utilities, etc. In terms of renting in Santa Clara, an average of $2,814 per month for all units is what you will find.
Santa Clara, CA Everyday Expenses
To help you determine the affordability of Santa Clara, check out these everyday expenses, provided by Numbeo.
- Gallon of Milk – $4.57
- Loaf of Bread – $3.60
- Gallon of Gasoline – $3.48
- Basic Utilities per Month – $178.11
- Internet per Month – $57.50
Best Neighborhoods & Places to Live in Santa Clara, CA
With such a classy and hip city, it naturally has plenty of unique and interesting sub-communities to explore and settle in! Check out some information regarding Santa Clara below:
Central Santa Clara is one of Santa Clara’s neighborhoods with the most desirable property, owing to its position right by the Bay and wealth of local attractions. South-east of Central Santa Clara is Kentfield, a more relaxed residential area that has a typically older crowd.
If you want to make yourself a part of any of this community, you should check out the latest listings for homes for sale in Santa Clara, CA.
If you are interested in renting, then take a look at some of the apartments in Santa Clara.
Santa Clara, CA Climate & Weather
The Bay Area can be colder than California’s southerly portions, but is still very pleasant. You can expect lows of 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, and highs of 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. Santa Clara gets far less than the average amount of rainfall when compared with the rest of the United States, with 15 inches per year as compared to 38. Meanwhile, Santa Clara experiences no snow. The best times to visit Santa Clara, in terms of comfort rating, are July and August.
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Things to Do in Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara has just about everything you could need in spades, with excellent shopping, eating, and attractions abound! Check out shopping in the area like the immensely popular Westfield Valley Fair and Santa Clara Town Center for all your shopping needs! You should also check out some of the best things to do in Santa Clara, CA below:
California’s Great America
California’s Great America is right up there with Disneyland as one of California’s best theme parks. Host to water attractions, thrill rides, on-site restaurants and shopping, and more, this expansive park is all you’ll ever need to be entertained around here!
4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054, +14089881776
Mission Santa Clara
The original European settlement of this mission was the impetus for the creation of the Santa Clara community, and it is still one of the most popular and beautiful attractions in the area!
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, +14085544023
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Santa Clara, CA Additional Attractions:
Santa Clara is also home to the massive Levi’s Stadium, which is the home stadium of the 49ers.
The community of Santa Clara is served by the City of Santa Clara parks & recreation department, which maintains all of Santa Clara’s best outdoor recreational areas. See all of this community’s most interesting parks at the Santa Clara parks & recreation site.
Places to Eat in Santa Clara, CA
Alongside its host of things to do, Santa Clara is also home to plenty of great eats! Check out some below:
The Fish Market
A chain local to central California, the Fish Market is a fantastic seafood restaurant, much beloved by Santa Clara locals! All sorts of dishes are served here, cooked by great chefs. If you love seafood, this is your place!
3775 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051, +14082463474
Puesto
What good would living in California be if you didn’t have a good Mexican place in close proximity? Not much good at all, we say, so it’s a good thing that Santa Clara residents have Puesto!
2752 Augustine Dr #110, Santa Clara, CA 95054, +14083339750
Santa Clara, CA Schools & Colleges
Santa Clara is served by the Santa Clara Unified School District, which has more than a third of its schools rated “Above Average” by GreatSchools. Some of Santa Clara’s wonderful schools include Millikin Elementary School, Juan Cabrillo Middle School, and Adrian Wilcox High School. Santa Clara has an excellent array of schools that are sure to teach your child well!
Students and others in Santa Clara are served by the Santa Clara City Library.
Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
Those planning on making a living in Santa Clara should know that both wages and cost of living have been going up at different rates, according to Payscale. The most popular positions of employment are Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, and Mechanical Engineer. The most popular employers in Santa Clara are Intel Corporation, Aruba Networks, and Nvidia Corp. The average salary for a worker in Santa Clara is $116k a year, while the average hourly wage is $27.07.
If you’re planning on living in Santa Clara, careers in tech are king, there’s no question about it. Check out the latest listings for jobs in Santa Clara, CA here.
Map of Santa Clara, CA
Explore Santa Clara’s large variety of things to do, places to eat, and more with this map!
Santa Clara, CA Statistics & Information
Santa Clara’s zip codes are 95050, 95051, and 95054, while the area codes are 408 and 669. If you want to commute from Santa Clara to San Francisco, the distance is 45 miles, and will take you around an hour. Santa Clara’s time zone is Pacific Standard Time, and sits at an elevation of 72’. The mayor of Santa Clara is Lisa Gillmor.
Tips for Moving to Santa Clara, CA
- Enjoy Santa Clara’s wealth of great attractions
- Bask in wonderful California weather
- Make sure your wallet is ready for the housing prices
Ready to take the plunge and relocate to Santa Clara? Give AMS Relocation a call at 650-284-2931! Our Santa Clara moving team will ensure your move is a slick and simple affair, at an excellent rate! Call now or fill out our online form for a free quote!
