City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The cost gap between Fort Worth and Santa Ana is the real story here. Fort Worth comes in 28% cheaper on typical rent ($1,509 vs $2,082), which over a year adds up to $6,876. Median household income runs $79,507 in Fort Worth and $93,999 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Santa Ana are 1,188 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $573 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $14,492 (18%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 107 in Santa Ana, down 28 points (21%).
The move
Santa Ana and Fort Worth are 1,188 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $573 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $14,492 (15%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 135 in Fort Worth, up 28 points (26%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 28% cheaper than Santa Ana
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Fort Worth is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $573/month back in your pocket ($6,876/year). Over five years that's $34,380 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, Fort Worth 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
18% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 18% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Santa Ana (about $14,492 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. Fort Worth can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 21% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°F (83°F highs). Fort Worth 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth 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 18% 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 21% lower than Fort Worth (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
On rent alone, Fort Worth undercuts Santa Ana by $573/month ($1,509 vs $2,082). I would not pick Santa Ana on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Santa Ana's $2,082, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth is the default on housing cost at $1,509/month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana; Santa Ana stays in play when $93,999 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $573 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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