Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Santa Ana
California
10
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($450,500 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Median income trails Santa Ana by $5,256/yr
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Households earn $5,256 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$174k less
$450,500 vs $624,000
Sacramento
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$5,256
$84,210 vs $78,954/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
35% lower
493.1 vs 754.9 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 311,379 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 12 and Santa Ana wins 10. 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 Sacramento to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($78,954 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.