City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Washington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,954 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Washington and Santa Ana split most clearly. Santa Ana scores 116 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Washington 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 Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Santa Ana are 2,282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $128 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $15,871 (14%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 107 in Santa Ana, down 116 points (52%).
The move
Santa Ana and Washington are 2,282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,954 a month in Washington, down $128 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $109,870 in Washington, up $15,871 (17%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 223 in Washington, up 116 points (108%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Washington rent is 6% cheaper than Santa Ana
Washington
Winner$1,954/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,954 a month in Washington versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Washington is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $128, or $1,536 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 Washington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Washington's median income is 17% higher than Santa Ana
Washington
Winner$109,870
Santa Ana
$93,999
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Washington (about $15,871 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, Washington 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
52% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 52% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Washington 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 Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Santa Ana
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°F (83°F highs). Washington averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Santa Ana sits near 77°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 Washington 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
Washington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,954 a month. Choose Washington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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 (77°F) beat Washington on this page's weather index by 39%. Washington 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 52% lower than Washington (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Santa Ana: Santa Ana scores 58/100 versus 36/100 in Washington, with typical rent at $2,082 versus $1,954. I would vet the exact ZIP in Washington before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (58/100 in Santa Ana vs 36/100 in Washington), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $109,870 in Washington versus $93,999 in Santa Ana.
If safety drives your move, Santa Ana is the stronger match (58/100 safety versus 36/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Washington, treat $1,954/month rent and $109,870 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 Washington and Santa Ana, plus other cities in DC and CA.
