El Centro, 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.
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Santa Ana leads in median household income ($72,458 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in cost of living index (111 vs 138). El Centro leads in average commute (21.6 min vs 26.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 43,772 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+2.6 |
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, 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 →