Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Redding, CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 13 of 23 categories
Redding
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Santa Ana
California
13
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.
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($343,000 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,885)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $16,887/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Redding
Households earn $16,887 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 100°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°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
Redding
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Home Value
$281k less
$343,000 vs $624,000
Redding
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$16,887
$84,210 vs $67,323/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
24% lower
493.1 vs 647.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Redding, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,278 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,323 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 170⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Redding Elementary | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,327 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Redding's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Redding is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 13 of 23 categories. Redding wins 10 and Santa Ana wins 13. 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 Redding to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($343,000 vs $624,000 median home), income ($67,323 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Redding, CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.