City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Denver and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 164 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Denver is the easier city on typical rent, but Santa Ana can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Santa Ana has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Santa Ana are 824 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $251 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $719 (1%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 107 in Santa Ana, down 164 points (61%).
The move
Santa Ana and Denver are 824 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $251 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $94,718 in Denver, up $719 (1%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 271 in Denver, up 164 points (153%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Denver rent is 12% cheaper than Santa Ana
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Denver 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 $3,012, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Denver 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 Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Denver's median income is 1% higher than Santa Ana
Denver
Winner$94,718
Santa Ana
$93,999
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Denver (about $719 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
61% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 61% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Santa Ana
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°F (83°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Santa Ana sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana scores 9% 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 Denver if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Santa Ana if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Santa Ana is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 61% lower than Denver (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 30/100 in Denver. Rent is $2,082/month in Santa Ana and $1,831/month in Denver, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (58/100 in Santa Ana vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,831 in Denver and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Santa Ana; Denver only makes sense when you have walked the Denver ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Santa Ana, plus other cities in CO and CA.
