City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The income gap between Santa Ana and Garland is significant: $93,999 median household versus $76,320. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,082 in Santa Ana and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Santa Ana wins on the job market and Garland wins on cost of living 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. Garland at $1,641 average has pockets that run $1,441 and others at $2,041: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Santa Ana and Garland are 1,225 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $441 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $76,320 in Garland, down $17,679 (19%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 87 in Garland, down 20 points (19%).
The move
Garland and Santa Ana are 1,225 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $441 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $17,679 (23%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 107 in Santa Ana, up 20 points (23%).
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Santa Ana and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Garland rent is 21% cheaper than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Garland is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $441/month back in your pocket ($5,292/year). Over five years that's $26,460 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, Garland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 23% higher than Garland
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Santa Ana (about $17,679 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. Garland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 19% lower than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Garland. 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, Garland 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 Garland are about even on typical weather.
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°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
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 23% higher here ($93,999). Start with Santa Ana if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,641 a month. Choose Garland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Santa Ana (87 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,641/month in Garland versus $2,082 in Santa Ana. Median income reads $76,320 in Garland and $93,999 in Santa Ana, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Garland rent at $1,641/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 $76,320 in Garland.
Pick Garland when shaving $441 off rent at $1,641/month is the priority. Otherwise, Santa Ana's case rests on $2,082/month rent with $93,999 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Santa Ana and Garland, plus other cities in CA and TX.
