Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 12 of 23 categories
Santa Ana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Seattle
Homes cost $256k less ($624,000 vs $879,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $31,858/yr
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%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $31,858 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
36% lower
493.1 vs 775.1 per 100k
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$256k less
$624,000 vs $879,900
Santa Ana
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Seattle
Median Income
$31,858
$116,068 vs $84,210/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Seattle is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 12 of 23 categories. Santa Ana wins 12 and Seattle wins 11. 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 Santa Ana to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $879,900 median home), income ($84,210 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Seattle, WA are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.