Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 13 of 22 categories
Santa Ana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Victorville
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $18,464 more per year on average
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
More college-educated — 17.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($300,600 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,885)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $18,464/yr
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Median Income
$18,464
$84,210 vs $65,746/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
51% lower
493.1 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Victorville
Median Home Value
$323k less
$300,600 vs $624,000
Victorville
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 77.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Victorville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 13 of 22 categories. Santa Ana wins 13 and Victorville wins 9. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $300,600 median home), income ($84,210 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Victorville, CA are about 63 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.