City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Sacramento and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 74 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,779 in Sacramento and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento 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 crime gap is citywide. Santa Ana has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Santa Ana are 391 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $303 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $6,678 (8%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 107 in Santa Ana, down 74 points (41%).
The move
Santa Ana and Sacramento are 391 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $303 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $6,678 (7%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 181 in Sacramento, up 74 points (69%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 15% cheaper than Santa Ana
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Sacramento is 15% 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 $3,636, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Sacramento 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 Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 8% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento
$87,321
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Santa Ana (about $6,678 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
41% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 41% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Sacramento and Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°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 Sacramento
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento 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 8% 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 41% lower than Sacramento (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 42/100 in Sacramento, with typical rent at $2,082 versus $1,779. I would vet the exact ZIP in Sacramento before trading 16 safety points for housing savings.
Santa Ana still pays more locally ($93,999 median income vs $87,321), which can offset the lease if your field pays Santa Ana rates.
Median income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $87,321 in Sacramento.
Santa Ana clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Sacramento deserves a serious look only when you already know the Sacramento block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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