Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Santa Ana
California
10
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $28,969 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,885 vs $1,983)
Homes cost $32k less ($624,000 vs $655,700)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $28,969/yr
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)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$28,969
$113,179 vs $84,210/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
56% lower
219.1 vs 493.1 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$32k less
$624,000 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Santa Ana wins 10. 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 Alexandria to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $624,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.