Palmdale, 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.
Palmdale
58
#1956 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Santa Ana leads in walk score (55 vs 24). Santa Ana leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 41.3 min). Palmdale leads in median household income ($78,414 vs $72,458).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 58 (#1956) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 161,404 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $503,499 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 41.3 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 15.1 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | D+2.6 |
F
58 Score
Palmdale, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$503,499
Population
161,404
Crime
High
Walk Score
24
Pacific
View Palmdale, 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 →
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