Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 12 of 23 categories
Santa Ana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379
Washington
District of Columbia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $81k less ($624,000 vs $705,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Washington by $17,512/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Washington
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,512 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
47% lower
493.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$81k less
$624,000 vs $705,000
Santa Ana
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$17,512
$101,722 vs $84,210/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 12 of 23 categories. Santa Ana wins 11 and Washington wins 12. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $705,000 median home), income ($84,210 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.