City comparison
Yes. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Anaheim and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The income gap between Anaheim and St Petersburg is significant: $95,227 median household versus $75,192. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,175 in Anaheim and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Anaheim wins on the job market and safety and St Petersburg 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. St Petersburg at $1,663 average has pockets that run $1,463 and others at $2,063: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and St Petersburg are 2,118 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $512 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $20,035 (21%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 165 in St Petersburg, up 22 points (15%).
The move
St Petersburg and Anaheim are 2,118 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $512 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $20,035 (27%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 143 in Anaheim, down 22 points (13%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 24% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so St Petersburg is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $512/month back in your pocket ($6,144/year). Over five years that's $30,720 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Petersburg is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Anaheim's median income is 27% higher than St Petersburg
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Anaheim (about $20,035 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. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
13% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 13% lower than St Petersburg
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Anaheim. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Anaheim, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Petersburg. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Anaheim and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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 27% 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 13% lower than St Petersburg (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 St Petersburg
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Anaheim runs $2,175/month while St Petersburg sits at $1,663 — roughly 24% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Anaheim-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
St Petersburg rent at $1,663/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Anaheim and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Between Anaheim and St Petersburg, St Petersburg is ahead on housing cost — $1,663/month rent against $2,175. Lean Anaheim instead when your $95,227 income offer in Anaheim outweighs saving $512/month in St Petersburg.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Anaheim and St Petersburg, plus other cities in CA and FL.
