Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 13 of 22 categories
Santa Ana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 54°F
Households earn $6,722 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
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)
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($242,200 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Median income trails Santa Ana by $6,722/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Median Income
$6,722
$84,210 vs $77,488/yr
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Violent Crime
5% lower
470.5 vs 493.1 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$382k less
$242,200 vs $624,000
South Fulton
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 13 of 22 categories. Santa Ana wins 9 and South Fulton wins 13. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $242,200 median home), income ($84,210 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and South Fulton, GA are about 1,906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.