Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Santa Ana
California
9
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($485,500 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$139k less
$485,500 vs $624,000
Riverside
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$762
$84,210 vs $83,448/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
16% lower
493.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 311,379 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 13 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 Riverside to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($83,448 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.