Payson, UT 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.
Payson
72.9
#812 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Santa Ana leads in walk score (55 vs 36). Payson leads in average commute (21 min vs 26.8 min). Payson leads in cost of living index (111 vs 138).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Payson, UT | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.9 (#812) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 24,054 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $477,164 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $81,387 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 21 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 3.5 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+39.8 | D+2.6 |
C-
72.9 Score
Payson, UT
Small Utah city with local appeal
Median Home
$477,164
Population
24,054
Crime
Low
Walk Score
36
West
View Payson, UT →
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 →