City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Austin and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 55 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and Santa Ana wins on the job market 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Austin at $1,729 average has pockets that run $1,529 and others at $2,129: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Santa Ana are 1,201 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $353 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $341 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 107 in Santa Ana, down 55 points (34%).
The move
Santa Ana and Austin are 1,201 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $353 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $93,658 in Austin, down $341 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 162 in Austin, up 55 points (51%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Austin rent is 17% cheaper than Santa Ana
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Austin is 17% 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 $4,236, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin 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
1% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 1% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Santa Ana (about $341 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
34% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 34% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°F (83°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Austin
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin 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 and professional growth
Santa Ana is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($93,999). Start with Santa Ana if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 34% lower than Austin (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 45/100 in Austin. Rent is $2,082/month in Santa Ana and $1,729/month in Austin, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Santa Ana still pays more locally ($93,999 median income vs $93,658), which can offset the lease if your field pays Santa Ana rates.
Median income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $93,658 in Austin.
Between Austin and Santa Ana, Santa Ana is ahead on safety — 58/100 safety versus 45/100. Lean Austin instead when you already know the Austin block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Santa Ana, plus other cities in TX and CA.
