Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 12 of 21 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
Worcester
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,199 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
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)
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($305,600 vs $624,000)
97% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Rent averages $573/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,885)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $21,199/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Median Income
$21,199
$84,210 vs $63,011/yr
Santa Ana
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 493.1 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$318k less
$305,600 vs $624,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 12 of 21 categories. Santa Ana wins 9 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $305,600 median home), income ($84,210 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.