Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Garland leads 16 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
Santa Ana
California
7
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($229,000 vs $624,000)
53% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,885)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 24.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $13,166/yr
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,166 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 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
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
53% lower
232.7 vs 493.1 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$395k less
$229,000 vs $624,000
Garland
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$13,166
$84,210 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, 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 | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND 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 | 41.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Garland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 16 of 23 categories. Garland wins 16 and Santa Ana wins 7. 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 Garland to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $624,000 median home), income ($71,044 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.