City comparison
Yes. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Anaheim and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Anaheim and Orlando split most clearly. Anaheim scores 99 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,175 in Anaheim and $1,747 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. Anaheim wins on the job market and safety and Orlando wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Orlando at $1,747 average has pockets that run $1,547 and others at $2,147: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and Orlando are 2,179 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $428 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $72,336 in Orlando, down $22,891 (24%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 242 in Orlando, up 99 points (69%).
The move
Orlando and Anaheim are 2,179 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $428 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $22,891 (32%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 143 in Anaheim, down 99 points (41%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Orlando rent is 20% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Orlando is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $5,136, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Orlando still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Anaheim's median income is 32% higher than Orlando
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Anaheim (about $22,891 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 41% lower than Orlando
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Anaheim and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Orlando (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Anaheim leads on safety (49/100 vs 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $2,175 in Anaheim and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $72,336), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $72,336 in Orlando.
Between Anaheim and Orlando, Anaheim is ahead on safety — 49/100 safety versus 33/100. Lean Orlando instead when you already know the Orlando block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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