Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 15 of 20 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Santa Ana
California
15
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $421/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,885)
Homes cost $135k less ($489,400 vs $624,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $14,482/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $14,482 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 17.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$135k less
$489,400 vs $624,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Ana
Median Income
$14,482
$84,210 vs $69,728/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
61% lower
493.1 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Santa Ana
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 15 of 20 categories. Compton wins 5 and Santa Ana wins 15. 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 Compton to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $624,000 median home), income ($69,728 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.