Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Angelo, TX
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 San Angelo leads 15 of 23 categories
San Angelo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Santa Ana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
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.
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $452k less ($171,700 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $848/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,885)
56% less violent crime than Santa Ana
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $19,170/yr
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,170 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 61°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
Cost of living runs 25% higher than San Angelo
Key Differences at a Glance
San Angelo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
56% lower
218.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$452k less
$171,700 vs $624,000
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$19,170
$84,210 vs $65,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Angelo, TX | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,700 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,037 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,040 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SAN ANGELO ISD | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,422 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Angelo's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 15 of 23 categories. San Angelo wins 15 and Santa Ana wins 8. 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 San Angelo to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,700 vs $624,000 median home), income ($65,040 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Angelo, TX and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,026 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.