Firstly why Santa-Ana, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Santa-Ana
• State: California
• Population: 332,318 people
• Santa-Ana’s quick summary would be Celebrated for its rich cultural heritage and the historic Old Orange County Courthouse.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 60,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 20,000 annually
• Net Migration: 40000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 8,000
• Number of Homeless people: 900

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it as a major city in Orange County it appeals to diverse populations for its job market

Perk #1: Santa-Ana Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 36%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 53%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Hispanic
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $63,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Santa-Ana is $68,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $5000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Santa-Ana’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 155 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,530
• Property Tax %: 1.11%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,500
• Rent for an average house: $2,700
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Santa Ana
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Santa-Ana, Orange, Tustin, Garden-Grove, and probably could include Anaheim
• Avg. Age of Homes in Santa-Ana: 65 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 2%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Santa-Ana’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Santa-Ana are  Retail, Healthcare, and Manufacturing
• Santa-Ana Job Scene: diverse job market centered on healthcare and education
• The General Tech Scene: emerging tech landscape, focused on diverse industries including health and education ,
• Santa-Ana Resident’s pay $1,800 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Santa-Ana: 9.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 150 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 25

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Santa-Ana

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $160 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-5 runs through Santa Ana allowing easy access to Los Angeles
• Commute Time: 30 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: heavy traffic on the 5 Freeway
• Transportation Score: 55 out of 100 described as Good Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Santa-Ana: 400,000
• Cars registered per Person: 1.2
• No. of Car Washes: 11 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Santa-Ana: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 70 of 100
• Local Airport: John Wayne

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Santa-Ana’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Wildfires
• General Weather in Santa-Ana is best described as experiences warm dry summers with temperatures in the 90s and mild winters with occasional rain
• Winter Weather in Santa-Ana i’d describe as mild with sunny days
• Spring Weather in Santa-Ana can be described as warm and dry
• Summer’s in Santa-Ana are mostly warm and dry
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Santa-Ana is usually warm and dry
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 56 days in summer
• Days in a row in Santa-Ana below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 15 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality reflecting urban activity
• Santa-Ana Winter Air average air quality with pollution spikes during winter

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Santa-Ana Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Santa-Ana 6
• While the number of trade schools inside Santa-Anas’s city limits are 4
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Santa Ana Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Santa-Ana Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 9 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Santa-Ana only Doctors is about 130
• Local Hospitals here is  7
• Full-time Santa-Ana only Police Officers is about 280
• Crime Rate Index: 65/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Santa-Ana’s Monthly utility bill average is $190
• Santa-Ana’s Monthly Gym Membership: $70
• Santa-Ana’s Water Quality Score: 66

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Santa-Ana

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 11 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: city with a rich cultural mix and bustling urban life
• You might enjoy concerts at the Santa Ana Theater
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Santa-Ana  features a lively nightlife scene with a mix of bars restaurants and cultural events in downtown

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Santa-Ana

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes a range of international cuisines and local eateries
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 90 scattered around Santa-Ana
• The Popular Sports Team is Santa Ana College
• Top Level Political Climate in Santa-Ana can be described as diverse and progressive city focused on social justice issues
• Santa-Ana’s Longer standing religious establishment is Calvary Chapel Santa Ana

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Santa-Ana Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Santa-Ana has 20 Parks?
• Santa Ana River Park is Santa-Ana’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Santa Ana Farmers Market normally open Saturday 9am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Outdoor sports, cycling, and hiking

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Santa-Ana Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Santa-Ana can be described as busy urban area with rich culture and community activities
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Santa-Ana hiking local nature trails cultural festivals community sports
• The Cities people commute to from Santa-Ana are Anaheim 6 miles away Garden-Grove 4 miles away Orange 8 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Santa-Ana or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: heavy traffic on the 5 Freeway. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Santa-Ana’s Wildfires risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Santa Ana is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Santa-Ana are Anaheim 6 miles away Garden-Grove 4 miles away Orange 8 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 65 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Santa-Ana has 0 days in a row below freezing and 56 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Santa-Ana people have an average (positive or negative) $5000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   900 homeless people living in Santa-Ana. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general diverse and progressive city focused on social justice issues could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Santa-Ana.

Retiree & Senior Life in Santa-Ana

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may qualify for tax credits relating to property ownership
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is Vista Cove at San Gabriel
• Santa Ana Senior Center offers health programs meal services and recreational activities

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Santa-Ana, California?

If Santa-Ana, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Santa-Ana, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!