Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Orlando leads 13 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($332,700 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $376/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $17,918/yr
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $17,918 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°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
Orlando
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$291k less
$332,700 vs $624,000
Orlando
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$17,918
$84,210 vs $66,292/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
41% lower
493.1 vs 835.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 13 of 22 categories. Orlando 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 Orlando to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $624,000 median home), income ($66,292 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.