City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The income gap between El Paso and Santa Ana is significant: $59,745 median household versus $93,999. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Santa Ana wins on the job market. 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. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Santa Ana are 675 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $1,009 a month (94%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $34,254 (57%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 107 in Santa Ana, up 20 points (23%).
The move
Santa Ana and El Paso are 675 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $1,009 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $59,745 in El Paso, down $34,254 (36%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 87 in El Paso, down 20 points (19%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
48% cheaper
El Paso rent is 48% cheaper than Santa Ana
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so El Paso is 48% cheaper. That's roughly $1,009/month back in your pocket ($12,108/year). Over five years that's $60,540 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 57% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Santa Ana (about $34,254 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 19% lower than Santa Ana
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Santa Ana can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°F (83°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 48% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Santa Ana (87 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
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 57% higher here ($93,999). Start with Santa Ana if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: El Paso at $1,073/month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana ($1,009 apart). Santa Ana median income is $93,999 against $59,745 in El Paso, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Santa Ana's $2,082, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 58/100 in Santa Ana.
Pick El Paso when shaving $1,009 off rent at $1,073/month is the priority. Otherwise, Santa Ana's case rests on $2,082/month rent with $93,999 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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