Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($194,400 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $806/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,885)
42% less violent crime than Santa Ana
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $19,247/yr
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,247 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Violent Crime
42% lower
285.7 vs 493.1 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$430k less
$194,400 vs $624,000
Santa Ana
Median Income
$19,247
$84,210 vs $64,963/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories. Kenosha 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 Kenosha to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $624,000 median home), income ($64,963 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,730 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.