Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Roswell leads 17 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
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.
Roswell, GA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Households earn $38,714 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $145k less ($479,400 vs $624,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $38,714/yr
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$38,714
$122,924 vs $84,210/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
68% lower
160.1 vs 493.1 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$145k less
$479,400 vs $624,000
Roswell
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 17 of 23 categories. Roswell 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 Roswell to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $624,000 median home), income ($122,924 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.