Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Bellevue leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Santa Ana
California
9
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.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $65,341 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $516k less ($624,000 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,885 vs $2,422)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $65,341/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 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellevue
Median Income
$65,341
$149,551 vs $84,210/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
72% lower
138.6 vs 493.1 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$516k less
$624,000 vs $1,139,500
Santa Ana
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ 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 | 36 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellevue is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 14 and Santa Ana wins 9. 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 Bellevue to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($149,551 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Santa Ana, CA are about 983 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.