City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The income gap between Memphis and Santa Ana is significant: $51,736 median household versus $93,999. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. Memphis 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Santa Ana are 1,583 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $901 a month (76%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $42,263 (82%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 107 in Santa Ana, down 388 points (78%).
The move
Santa Ana and Memphis are 1,583 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $901 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $51,736 in Memphis, down $42,263 (45%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 495 in Memphis, up 388 points (363%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Memphis rent is 43% cheaper than Santa Ana
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Memphis is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $901/month back in your pocket ($10,812/year). Over five years that's $54,060 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, Memphis 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
82% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 82% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 82% higher in Santa Ana (about $42,263 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 78% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Memphis and Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana sits near 72°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 Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis 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 82% 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 78% lower than Memphis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Santa Ana: Santa Ana scores 58/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $2,082 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 47 safety points for housing savings.
Santa Ana still pays more locally ($93,999 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Santa Ana rates.
Median income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Pick Santa Ana when you want the stronger safety signal (58/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Santa Ana, plus other cities in TN and CA.
