Santa Ana, CA vs Tacoma, WA
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.
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Tacoma
65.1
#1654 nationally
Tacoma leads in cost of living index (118 vs 138). Santa Ana leads in median household income ($72,458 vs $65,891). Santa Ana leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.6 (#1759) | 65.1 (#1654) |
| Population | 310,227 | 221,776 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $869,263 | $496,203 |
| Median Household Income | $72,458 | $65,891 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 55 | 52 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 138 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+10.8 |
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 →
D
65.1 Score
Tacoma, WA
City of Destiny reborn
Median Home
$496,203
Population
221,776
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
West
View Tacoma, WA →