Apex, NC 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.
Apex
70.6
#1082 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Santa Ana leads in walk score (55 vs 26). Apex leads in median household income ($129,688 vs $72,458). Apex leads in cost of living index (122 vs 138).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Apex, NC | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.6 (#1082) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 72,225 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $601,962 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $129,688 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 23.9 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 26 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+2.6 |
C-
70.6 Score
Apex, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$601,962
Population
72,225
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
26
Southeast
View Apex, NC →
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 →