Fairfax, VA vs Santa Ana, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Fairfax
70.4
#1102 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Fairfax leads in median household income ($128,708 vs $72,458). Santa Ana leads in cost of living index (138 vs 160). Santa Ana leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fairfax, VA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.4 (#1102) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 25,144 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,568 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $128,708 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 54 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 2.5 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+35.0 | D+2.6 |
C-
70.4 Score
Fairfax, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$787,568
Population
25,144
Crime
Low
Walk Score
54
Northeast
View Fairfax, VA →
D
63.6 Score
Santa Ana, CA
Heart of Orange County
Median Home
$869,263
Population
310,227
Crime
Moderate
Schools
C
Pacific
View Santa Ana, CA →