City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Frisco is cheaper. Median rent is $2,014 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Santa Ana and Frisco split most clearly. Frisco scores 64 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,082 in Santa Ana and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Santa Ana makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Frisco is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Frisco has rougher pockets and Santa Ana has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Santa Ana and Frisco are 1,212 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $2,014 a month in Frisco, down $68 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $150,212 in Frisco, up $56,213 (60%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 43 in Frisco, down 64 points (60%).
The move
Frisco and Santa Ana are 1,212 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $68 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $56,213 (37%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 107 in Santa Ana, up 64 points (149%).
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Santa Ana and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Frisco rent is 3% cheaper than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Frisco
Winner$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $2,014 a month in Frisco versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Frisco is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $68, or $816 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
60% higher
Frisco's median income is 60% higher than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$93,999
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 60% higher in Frisco (about $56,213 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, Frisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Santa Ana can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 60% lower than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco 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
Santa Ana and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco sits near 68°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 Santa Ana
On these five categories Frisco takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Santa Ana because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Santa Ana only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Frisco is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $2,014 a month. Choose Frisco if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Frisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 60% higher here ($150,212). Start with Frisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than Santa Ana (43 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
Safety is the widest gap: Frisco scores 86/100 versus 58/100 in Santa Ana. Rent is $2,014/month in Frisco and $2,082/month in Santa Ana, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $68 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $2,014 in Frisco and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Frisco is ahead on safety (86/100 vs 58/100); Santa Ana is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $2,082/month rent plus $93,999 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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