Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Arden-Arcade
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Santa Ana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,885)
Homes cost $158k less ($466,300 vs $624,000)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $19,731/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,731 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$158k less
$466,300 vs $624,000
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$19,731
$84,210 vs $64,479/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
5% lower
493.1 vs 518.1 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Arden-Arcade wins 11 and Santa Ana wins 11. 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 Arden-Arcade to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $624,000 median home), income ($64,479 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.