Santa Ana, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Santa Ana.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Santa Ana?
Santa Ana planning snapshot: population 316,184, housing index 182 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $657,800, median rent $1,975, and income near $88,354. Expect 78°F summer highs, 49°F winter lows, and about 27-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 435.5 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 182U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $657,800U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,975U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $88,354U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 27 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 435.5per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 78°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Santa Ana compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 316,184City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $88,354Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year12% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 182ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year82% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $657,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year117% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,975City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year47% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 27 min8% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6749% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 435.5annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)26% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2040.4annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)34% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 78°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 49°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 11.2 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals66% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 324As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Santa Ana declined 2.8% from 325,327 in 2010 to 316,184 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Santa Ana expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Santa Ana's housing cost index is 182 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($657,800 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,975 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 182 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $657,800 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,975 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Santa Ana?
Typical ownership costs center near $657,800, while median gross rent is about $1,975 a month. Against a median household income of $88,354, rent alone is roughly 27% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $657,800
- Median rent $1,975/month
- Median household income $88,354
What is the job market like in Santa Ana?
County unemployment recently ran 4.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Santa Ana is about $88,354 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $88,354
How long is the typical commute in Santa Ana?
Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes, with Walk Score near 67/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 27 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 67/100
Is Santa Ana safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 435.5 per 100k and property about 2040.4 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 435.5 per 100k
- Property 2040.4 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Santa Ana?
Normals show summer highs near 78°F, winter lows near 49°F, about 11.2 inches of rain, and roughly 324 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 78°F
- Winter low 49°F
- 11.2 in rain · 324 sunny days
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 324 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 67/100. Labor-market readings near 4.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 435.5 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Santa Ana, California counts about 316,184 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $88,354 and a cost index of 182, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. A typical home near $657,800 and rents around $1,975 frame most shortlists.
Santa Ana is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Santa Ana with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Santa Ana city, 1600000US0669000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Orange County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093184 SANTA ANA JOHN WAYNE AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10