City comparison
Yes. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The income gap between Santa Ana and Glendale is significant: $93,999 median household versus $73,530. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,082 in Santa Ana and $1,528 in Glendale.
This is a genuine split. Santa Ana wins on the job market and safety and Glendale wins on cost of living. 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. Glendale at $1,528 average has pockets that run $1,328 and others at $1,928: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Santa Ana and Glendale are 327 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $554 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $73,530 in Glendale, down $20,469 (22%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 144 in Glendale, up 37 points (35%).
The move
Glendale and Santa Ana are 327 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $554 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $20,469 (28%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 107 in Santa Ana, down 37 points (26%).
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Santa Ana and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Glendale rent is 27% cheaper than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Glendale is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $554/month back in your pocket ($6,648/year). Over five years that's $33,240 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, Glendale 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
28% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 28% higher than Glendale
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Santa Ana (about $20,469 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. Glendale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
26% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 26% lower than Glendale
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Glendale 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 Glendale are about even on typical weather.
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Glendale averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale sits near 76°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 28% 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 26% lower than Glendale (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Glendale
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,528 a month. Choose Glendale if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,528/month in Glendale versus $2,082 in Santa Ana. Median income reads $73,530 in Glendale and $93,999 in Santa Ana, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Glendale rent at $1,528/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 $73,530 in Glendale.
Glendale clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Santa Ana deserves a serious look only when your $93,999 income offer in Santa Ana outweighs saving $554/month in Glendale.
Common questions
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