Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Santa Ana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($215,500 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $26,673/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,673 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°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
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$409k less
$215,500 vs $624,000
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$26,673
$84,210 vs $57,537/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
46% lower
493.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 311,379 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 13 and Santa Ana wins 10. 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 Philadelphia to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($57,537 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.