City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Aurora and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 105 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Santa Ana is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Santa Ana has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Santa Ana are 831 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $247 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $5,631 (6%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 107 in Santa Ana, down 105 points (50%).
The move
Santa Ana and Aurora are 831 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $247 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $88,368 in Aurora, down $5,631 (6%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 212 in Aurora, up 105 points (98%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Aurora rent is 12% cheaper than Santa Ana
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Aurora is 12% 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 $2,964, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Aurora still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Santa Ana.
Planning to buy in Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 6% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Santa Ana (about $5,631 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
50% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 50% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% 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. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Santa Ana
Winner78°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 78°F (85°F highs). Aurora averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Santa Ana sits near 78°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Aurora if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Aurora
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,835 a month. Choose Aurora if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 6% higher ($93,999), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 78°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 50% lower than Aurora (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
Safety is the widest gap: Santa Ana scores 58/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora. Rent is $2,082/month in Santa Ana and $1,835/month in Aurora, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (58/100 in Santa Ana vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,835 in Aurora and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Between Aurora and Santa Ana, Santa Ana is ahead on safety — 58/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean Aurora instead when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Santa Ana?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Santa Ana when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Santa Ana, plus other cities in CO and CA.
