Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Renton leads 14 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Santa Ana
California
9
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,082 more per year on average
Homes cost $47k less ($576,800 vs $624,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°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)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Median income trails Renton by $8,082/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$8,082
$92,292 vs $84,210/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
31% lower
339.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$47k less
$576,800 vs $624,000
Renton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Ana
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Renton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 14 of 23 categories. Renton wins 14 and Santa Ana wins 9. 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 Renton to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $624,000 median home), income ($92,292 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Santa Ana, CA are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.