Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 11 of 21 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Santa Ana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,608 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $358k less ($624,000 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,885 vs $2,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
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)
Median income trails Pasadena by $13,608/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$13,608
$97,818 vs $84,210/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
3% lower
480.4 vs 493.1 per 100k
Pasadena
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 82.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$358k less
$624,000 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 11 of 21 categories. Pasadena wins 10 and Santa Ana wins 11. 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 Pasadena to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $624,000 median home), income ($97,818 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.