Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948
Santa Ana
California
6
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.
Plano, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Homes cost $212k less ($412,500 vs $624,000)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $21,469 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Plano by $21,469/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$21,469
$105,679 vs $84,210/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
69% lower
151.6 vs 493.1 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$212k less
$412,500 vs $624,000
Plano
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Plano is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Plano wins 17 and Santa Ana wins 6. 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 Plano to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($105,679 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.