City comparison
Yes. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Lexington and Santa Ana. Lexington averages 54°F while Santa Ana averages 72°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,164 versus $2,082.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lexington costs less and Santa Ana pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lexington at $1,164 average has pockets that run $964 and others at $1,564: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Lexington and Santa Ana are 1,882 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $918 a month (79%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $24,520 (35%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 107 in Santa Ana, up 5 points (5%).
The move
Santa Ana and Lexington are 1,882 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $918 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $69,479 in Lexington, down $24,520 (26%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 102 in Lexington, down 5 points (5%).
Lexington, KY
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 Lexington and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Lexington rent is 44% cheaper than Santa Ana
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Lexington is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $918/month back in your pocket ($11,016/year). Over five years that's $55,080 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, Lexington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 35% higher than Lexington
Lexington
$69,479
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Santa Ana (about $24,520 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. Lexington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
5% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 5% lower than Santa Ana
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Lexington. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lexington, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Santa Ana. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 45% more comfortable than Lexington
Lexington
54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
Santa Ana
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Lexington averages around 54°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 45% 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 Lexington if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Santa Ana (102 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 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 35% 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.
Bottom line
Santa Ana runs $2,082/month while Lexington sits at $1,164 — roughly 44% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Santa Ana-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Lexington rent at $1,164/month is still below Santa Ana's $2,082, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Lexington and 72°F in Santa Ana.
Between Lexington and Santa Ana, Lexington is ahead on housing cost — $1,164/month rent against $2,082. Lean Santa Ana instead when your $93,999 income offer in Santa Ana outweighs saving $918/month in Lexington.
Common questions
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