Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 21 categories
Anaheim
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($713,600 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,148)
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orange by $20,797/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Anaheim
Households earn $20,797 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$135k less
$713,600 vs $848,200
Anaheim
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Orange
Median Income
$20,797
$109,335 vs $88,538/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
62% lower
226.1 vs 596.2 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 21 categories. Anaheim wins 7 and Orange wins 14. 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 Anaheim to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $848,200 median home), income ($88,538 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Orange, CA are about 8 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.