Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Santa Ana
California
6
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($417,600 vs $624,000)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,885)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 69°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Median income trails Santa Ana by $8,834/yr
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,834 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
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 rents — median is $1,885/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$206k less
$417,600 vs $624,000
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$8,834
$84,210 vs $75,376/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 13 and Santa Ana wins 6. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $624,000 median home), income ($75,376 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.