Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 19 of 23 categories
Santa Ana
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379
Virginia Beach
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Virginia Beach
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($343,700 vs $624,000)
81% less violent crime than Santa Ana
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $317/mo less ($1,568 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$3,334
$87,544 vs $84,210/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
81% lower
92.3 vs 493.1 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$280k less
$343,700 vs $624,000
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 19 of 23 categories. Santa Ana wins 4 and Virginia Beach wins 19. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $343,700 median home), income ($84,210 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.