Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($304,500 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $571/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $12,537/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,537 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
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
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$320k less
$304,500 vs $624,000
Santa Ana
Median Income
$12,537
$84,210 vs $71,673/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
9% lower
493.1 vs 539.8 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 311,379 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 12 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 Chicago to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,731 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.