City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 93 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs 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. Colorado Springs 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Santa Ana are 806 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $434 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $9,181 (11%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 107 in Santa Ana, down 93 points (47%).
The move
Santa Ana and Colorado Springs are 806 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $434 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $9,181 (10%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 93 points (87%).
Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 21% cheaper than Santa Ana
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Colorado Springs is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $434/month back in your pocket ($5,208/year). Over five years that's $26,040 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 Santa Ana, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 11% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Santa Ana (about $9,181 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, Santa Ana is the stronger labor market on paper. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 47% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Santa Ana
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana scores 39% 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs 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 11% higher ($93,999), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 47% lower than Colorado Springs (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 39/100 in Colorado Springs. Rent is $2,082/month in Santa Ana and $1,648/month in Colorado Springs, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Santa Ana still pays more locally ($93,999 median income vs $84,818), which can offset the lease if your field pays Santa Ana rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Colorado Springs and 72°F in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana is ahead on safety (58/100 vs 39/100); Colorado Springs is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,648/month rent plus $84,818 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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