San Jose, CA 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.
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $72,458). Santa Ana leads in cost of living index (138 vs 198). San Jose leads in school rating (7.2 vs 5.4).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1807) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 983,489 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,391,204 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $142,891 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 55 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Moderate |
| School Rating | 7.2 | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 198 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+2.6 |
D
63 Score
San Jose, CA
Capital of Silicon Valley
Median Home
$1,391,204
Population
983,489
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Pacific
View San Jose, CA →
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 →