City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Seattle is cheaper. Median rent is $2,030 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Seattle and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 145 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Seattle is the easier city on typical rent, but Santa Ana can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Santa Ana has rougher pockets and Seattle has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Seattle and Santa Ana are 985 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $52 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $29,861 (24%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 107 in Santa Ana, down 145 points (58%).
The move
Santa Ana and Seattle are 985 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $2,030 a month in Seattle, down $52 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $123,860 in Seattle, up $29,861 (32%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 252 in Seattle, up 145 points (136%).
Seattle, WA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Seattle and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Seattle rent is 2% cheaper than Santa Ana
Seattle
Winner$2,030/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $2,030 a month in Seattle versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Seattle is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $52, or $624 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 Seattle? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Seattle's median income is 32% higher than Santa Ana
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Santa Ana
$93,999
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Seattle (about $29,861 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, Seattle 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
58% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 58% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Santa Ana
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana scores 39% 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 Seattle 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 and professional growth
Seattle is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $2,030 a month. Choose Seattle if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Santa Ana if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Santa Ana is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 58% lower than Seattle (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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Santa Ana scores 58/100 versus 32/100 in Seattle. Rent is $2,082/month in Santa Ana and $2,030/month in Seattle, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (58/100 in Santa Ana vs 32/100 in Seattle), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $93,999 in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana is ahead on safety (58/100 vs 32/100); Seattle is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $2,030/month rent plus $123,860 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Santa Ana, plus other cities in WA and CA.
