Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Green Bay leads 14 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
Santa Ana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($172,700 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $1021/mo less ($864 vs $1,885)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $25,036/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,036 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 25°F
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 23% higher than Green Bay
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$451k less
$172,700 vs $624,000
Green Bay
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Ana
Median Income
$25,036
$84,210 vs $59,174/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 14 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 14 and Santa Ana wins 9. 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 Green Bay to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $624,000 median home), income ($59,174 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,754 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.