I was looking into renting a place in West L.A... then checked Zillow and saw some nice houses for rent in Santa Clarita. It seems like you get more space for your buck there, plus a more suburban lifestyle, while still being close to Los Angeles.
What are the biggest pros and cons of living in Santa Clarita? I wonder about commute times, safety, things to do.. Whether it feels too far removed from LA. And overall, do you think Santa Clarita is a good place to settle down?
I remember I looked into Santa Clarita some years ago. The main reason was that the houses there are still affordable. Back then, I could find houses for under $ 700k. I'm not sure if that's changed.
I remember the commute from West Los Angeles to Santa Clarita takes about 45 minutes. The strange thing for me was learning that the commute to DTLA is about the same. Still, a 45-minute to an hour daily commute (one way) adds up to a lot of driving time. With traffic probably well over two hours a day. With the current gas prices, that's something to consider (unless you have solar plus an EV or work from home).
When I drove up there to check these houses, it was like a different world. The vibe felt nothing like L.A., but I saw clean neighborhoods that felt safe during the day. If you are used to city life (as far as I remember, you come from NY), well, this might not be for you.
If your dream is having a garage, decent schools, fresh air, hiking nearby and going to bed without hearing car noise at 2 am, Santa Clarita isn't the worst choice. 
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Just understand that the 5 or 405 freeway will eventually become a major character in your life. Finding a home office might be key.
I could get used to it. I grew up in Indiana. My hubsband on the other hand wants some sort of city life. I'm not sure Santa Clarita offers that. I do work mostly from home, he travels a lot. Going to LAX might take well over an hour each time.
That does sound tempting, not gonna lie. 
I have the same problem with my hubby. 
Good luck convincing him. Especially since he goes to LAX frequently.
I would look at Valencia first. It’s probably one of the easiest parts of Santa Clarita to recommend to someone who doesn’t know the area or needs some convincing.
Lots of parks, trails, shopping and restaurants nearby. Santa Clarita, in general, is very car-dependent, so keep that in mind if you’re used to living somewhere walkable.
I personally prefer Santa Clarita over the Valley because it's greener and feels safe. One downside is that the heat is very similar to the San Fernando Valley, which sounds small, but I can't handle it that well.
I think it's a great place to retire one day. Less traffic, less noise, less craziness.