Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Peoria leads 18 of 22 categories
Peoria
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Santa Ana
California
4
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.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($383,600 vs $624,000)
48% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$2,549
$86,759 vs $84,210/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
48% lower
254.7 vs 493.1 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$240k less
$383,600 vs $624,000
Peoria
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 18 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 18 and Santa Ana wins 4. 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 Peoria to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $624,000 median home), income ($86,759 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Santa Ana, CA are about 320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.