Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Alafaya leads 15 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Santa Ana
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($361,800 vs $624,000)
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $9,041 more per year on average
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,885)
Cons
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Income
$9,041
$93,251 vs $84,210/yr
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$262k less
$361,800 vs $624,000
Alafaya
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Alafaya
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 15 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 15 and Santa Ana wins 4. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $624,000 median home), income ($93,251 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.