Santa Ana, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Santa Ana, CA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Santa Ana, CA?
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 559.5).
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 · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 78°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Santa Ana compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (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 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $88,354Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year12% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 182ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year82% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $657,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year117% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,975City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year47% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 27 min8% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6749% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 435.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)22% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2040.4per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)32% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 78°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 49°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 11.2 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals66% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 324As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21% above catalog avgCatalog avg 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, CA 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, CA?
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, CA?
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, CA?
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, CA 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 559.5 and 3005.3. 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, CA?
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 figures, 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 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Orange County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093184 SANTA ANA JOHN WAYNE AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19