Santa Ana, CA vs Wake Forest, NC
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
Wake Forest
68.8
#1286 nationally
Santa Ana leads in walk score (55 vs 20). Wake Forest leads in median household income ($115,159 vs $72,458). Wake Forest leads in cost of living index (116 vs 138).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Wake Forest, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.6 (#1759) | 68.8 (#1286) |
| Population | 310,227 | 54,337 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $869,263 | $513,720 |
| Median Household Income | $72,458 | $115,159 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 55 | 20 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 4.0 |
| School Rating | 5.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 138 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+25.6 |
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+
68.8 Score
Wake Forest, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$513,720
Population
54,337
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
20
Southeast
View Wake Forest, NC →
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