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DEMOGRAPHICS / HOUSING & CRIME

• CRIME
• HOUSING
• CONSTRUCTION

CRIME

Santa Clarita consistently remains one of the safest cities in California as well as in the nation. Overall, Santa Clarita is the 3rd safest among California cities with a population of at least 150,000 people and is the 11th safest in the United States.

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report, May 2007

HOUSING

The City of Santa Clarita, unlike many other cities in Los Angeles County, boasts a much larger share of owner-occupied housing units compared to housing units occupied by renters. Close to three-fourths or 74% of Santa Clarita’s housing units are owner-occupied.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2005 American Community Survey

Santa Clarita’s housing stock is substantially newer than that of the entire County. One-third or 32% of Santa Clarita’s housing stock was built from 1980 through 1989. In comparison, only 12% of Los Angeles County’s housing was built during this same time period. Additionally, only 9% of Santa Clarita’s housing was built prior to 1960; whereas, 48% of the County’s housing was built prior to 1960.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2005 American Community Survey

Santa Clarita’s housing vacancy rate in 2005 was 3.65% compared to 4.65% for the County of Los Angeles.

Single-family homes in the entire Santa Clarita Valley have increase in value each year. Currently, the May 2007 resale price is $615,000. In 2006, the median resale price of $603,492 increased 7% from 2005. Overall, from 1998 to 2006 the median resale price of single-family homes rose 195%.

Condominium resale prices followed a similar pattern in the Santa Clarita Valley. In May 2007, the condominium resale price was $355,000. In 2006, the median resale price of $380,583 increased 7% from 2005. Over the same time period of 1998 to 2006, condominium prices rose 206%.

Source: Southland Regional Association of Realtors, June 2007

Median home prices in the City of Santa Clarita remain affordable compared to other cities in Los Angeles County. The May 2007 median home price of $570,000 was comparable to that of $550,000 for Los Angeles County and that of the City of Los Angeles. In fact, Santa Clarita’s home prices are lower than those found in Burbank, Glendale, or Pasadena.

Source: DataQuick Information Systems reported by California Association of Realtors, June 2007

In recent years, more of the residential development in Los Angeles County has occurred in Santa Clarita compared to other areas within the County. Annually, the number of single-family permits in the City of Santa Clarita remains higher than the number of multi-family permits. In contrast, multi-family permits in the County surpassed single-family permits in 2005.

Sources: City Public Works Department, Building & Safety Division; County of Los Angeles Public Works Department, Building & Safety Division

CONSTRUCTION

Non-residential construction activity in Santa Clarita has also remained strong and the City has seen much growth in commercial and industrial construction. In 2006, non-residential permits reached a valuation of $166.74 million dollars up 46% from 2005.

Source: City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division, April 2007

Of all non-residential permit activity, 29% was for additions, alterations, and conversions while 21% was for other non-residential and 17% was for office, bank, or professional construction. Still, industrial construction accounted for 15% of the permits and tourism/recreation accounted for an additional 12%.

Source: City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division, April 2007

Residential construction valuation in the City of Santa Clarita peaked at $24.46 million in 2004; however, construction square footage peaked in 2005 with 510,650 square feet. Although residential permit activity dipped slightly in 2006, this is due to the increase of residential construction outside the city limits in nearby unincorporated areas surrounding the City of Santa Clarita.

Source: City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division, April 2007