Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 18 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Santa Ana
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($210,800 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,183 vs $1,885)
55% less violent crime than Santa Ana
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Broken Arrow
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
55% lower
223.1 vs 493.1 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$413k less
$210,800 vs $624,000
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$1,663
$84,210 vs $82,547/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 18 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 18 and Santa Ana wins 5. 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 Broken Arrow to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $624,000 median home), income ($82,547 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.