Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Goodyear leads 17 of 21 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Santa Ana
California
4
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($396,100 vs $624,000)
63% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Households earn $13,097 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$13,097
$97,307 vs $84,210/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
63% lower
182.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$228k less
$396,100 vs $624,000
Goodyear
Summer Heat
24.9°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 17 of 21 categories. Goodyear wins 17 and Santa Ana wins 4. 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 Goodyear to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $624,000 median home), income ($97,307 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Santa Ana, CA are about 320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.