City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Santa Ana and Madison. Santa Ana averages 72°F while Madison averages 48°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,082 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Santa Ana pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Santa Ana and Madison are 1,660 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $669 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $78,050 in Madison, down $15,949 (17%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 91 in Madison, down 16 points (15%).
The move
Madison and Santa Ana are 1,660 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $669 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $15,949 (20%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 107 in Santa Ana, up 16 points (18%).
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Santa Ana and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Madison rent is 32% cheaper than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Madison is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $669/month back in your pocket ($8,028/year). Over five years that's $40,140 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, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 20% higher than Madison
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Santa Ana (about $15,949 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. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
15% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 15% lower than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Madison. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Madison, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Santa Ana. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Santa Ana
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Santa Ana scores 92% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 20% higher ($93,999), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Santa Ana (91 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: $1,413/month in Madison versus $2,082 in Santa Ana. Median income reads $78,050 in Madison and $93,999 in Santa Ana, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Madison rent at $1,413/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 $78,050 in Madison.
If housing cost drives your move, Madison is the stronger match ($1,413/month rent against $2,082). If an employer or family tie already points to Santa Ana, treat $2,082/month rent and $93,999 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Santa Ana and Madison, plus other cities in CA and WI.
