City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Santa Ana is cheaper. Median rent is $2,082 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Anaheim and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 36 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 $2,082 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. Anaheim wins on the job market and Santa Ana wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Santa Ana has rougher pockets and Anaheim has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Anaheim and Santa Ana are 7 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, down $93 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $1,228 (1%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 107 in Santa Ana, down 36 points (25%).
The move
Santa Ana and Anaheim are 7 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $93 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $1,228 (1%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 143 in Anaheim, up 36 points (34%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Santa Ana rent is 4% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Santa Ana
Winner$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $2,082 a month in Santa Ana versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Santa Ana is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $93, or $1,116 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Anaheim's median income is 1% higher than Santa Ana
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Santa Ana
$93,999
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Anaheim (about $1,228 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 25% lower than Anaheim
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Santa Ana. 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, Santa Ana is the easier city. Anaheim 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 Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana sits near 72°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 1% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Santa Ana is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $2,082 a month. Choose Santa Ana if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Santa Ana is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Anaheim (107 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Santa Ana: Santa Ana scores 58/100 versus 49/100 in Anaheim, with typical rent at $2,082 versus $2,175. I would vet the exact ZIP in Anaheim before trading 9 safety points for housing savings.
With only $93 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $93,999 in Santa Ana.
Pick Santa Ana when you want the stronger safety signal (58/100). Otherwise, Anaheim's case rests on a Anaheim ZIP you trust at $2,175 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Santa Ana when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Anaheim and Santa Ana, plus other cities in CA.
