Rutherford, NJ 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.
Rutherford
70.7
#1075 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Rutherford leads in median household income ($128,576 vs $72,458). Santa Ana leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 33.5 min). Rutherford leads in walk score (67 vs 55).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Rutherford, NJ | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.7 (#1075) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 18,852 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $767,911 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $128,576 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 33.5 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 67 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 1.6 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 146 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+3.4 | D+2.6 |
C-
70.7 Score
Rutherford, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$767,911
Population
18,852
Crime
Low
Walk Score
67
Northeast
View Rutherford, NJ →
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 →