Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Las Vegas, NV
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 North Las Vegas leads 13 of 22 categories
North Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022
Santa Ana
California
9
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.
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($340,200 vs $624,000)
21% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,479 vs $1,885)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $12,436/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $12,436 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
21% lower
388.9 vs 493.1 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$284k less
$340,200 vs $624,000
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
23.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$12,436
$84,210 vs $71,774/yr
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Las Vegas, NV | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,479⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,774 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.8% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 4.3" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,022 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 13 of 22 categories. North Las Vegas wins 13 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 North Las Vegas to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $624,000 median home), income ($71,774 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Las Vegas, NV and Santa Ana, CA are about 237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.