Raleigh, 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.
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Santa Ana leads in walk score (55 vs 31). Raleigh leads in school rating (7.5 vs 5.4). Raleigh leads in cost of living index (105 vs 138).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71 (#1035) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 470,763 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $435,237 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $82,424 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 24.3 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 31 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 32.0 | Moderate |
| School Rating | 7.5 | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+2.6 |
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, 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 →