Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Santa Ana leads 11 of 18 categories
Santa Ana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($624,000 vs $777,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,939 more per year on average
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,885 vs $1,977)
Cons
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)
Westminster, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Median Income
$3,939
$84,210 vs $80,271/yr
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$153k less
$624,000 vs $777,100
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Westminster
Violent Crime
12% lower
436.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Santa Ana leads 11 of 18 categories. Santa Ana wins 11 and Westminster wins 7. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($84,210 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Westminster, CA are about 6 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.