Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 18 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Santa Ana
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($427,900 vs $624,000)
45% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,641 vs $1,885)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Median Income
$1,101
$85,311 vs $84,210/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
45% lower
272.4 vs 493.1 per 100k
Henderson
Median Home Value
$196k less
$427,900 vs $624,000
Henderson
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 311,379 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 18 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 18 and Santa Ana wins 5. 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 Henderson to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $624,000 median home), income ($85,311 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Santa Ana, CA are about 225 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.