City comparison
Yes. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Santa Ana and St Paul. Santa Ana averages 72°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,082 versus $1,281.
Santa Ana is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Santa Ana is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Santa Ana and St Paul are 1,524 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $801 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $73,394 in St Paul, down $20,605 (22%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 166 in St Paul, up 59 points (55%).
The move
St Paul and Santa Ana are 1,524 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $801 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $20,605 (28%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 107 in Santa Ana, down 59 points (36%).
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Santa Ana and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
St Paul rent is 38% cheaper than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so St Paul is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $801/month back in your pocket ($9,612/year). Over five years that's $48,060 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, St Paul 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 St Paul
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Santa Ana (about $20,605 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. St Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 36% lower than St Paul
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Santa Ana
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°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. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Santa Ana scores 72% 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 St Paul 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 28% 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.
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 36% lower than St Paul (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 St Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: St Paul at $1,281/month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana ($801 apart). Santa Ana median income is $93,999 against $73,394 in St Paul, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Safety still diverges (58/100 in Santa Ana vs 45/100 in St Paul), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 58/100 in Santa Ana and 45/100 in St Paul.
If housing cost drives your move, St Paul is the stronger match ($1,281/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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