Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Santa Ana
California
8
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($310,000 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $617/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,885)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 22.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $17,835/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,835 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 18% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$314k less
$310,000 vs $624,000
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$17,835
$84,210 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 15 and Santa Ana wins 8. 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 Glendale to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $624,000 median home), income ($66,375 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Santa Ana, CA are about 328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.