Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075
Santa Ana
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
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.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,357 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Homes cost $93k less ($531,400 vs $624,000)
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $60,357/yr
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)
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$60,357
$144,567 vs $84,210/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
80% lower
100.9 vs 493.1 per 100k
Frisco
Median Home Value
$93k less
$531,400 vs $624,000
Frisco
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 17 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 Frisco to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $624,000 median home), income ($144,567 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.