Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 12 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Santa Ana
California
12
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($192,000 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $992/mo less ($893 vs $1,885)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $35,019/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,019 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 41°F
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
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$432k less
$192,000 vs $624,000
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$35,019
$84,210 vs $49,191/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
42% lower
493.1 vs 845.6 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 12 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 11 and Santa Ana wins 12. 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 Cincinnati to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $624,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.