Santa Ana and Huntington Beach are two diverse cities in California, both offering unique atmospheres and lifestyle. While Santa Ana is known for its robust cultural, historical connection, and urban life, Huntington Beach boasts a relaxed, beach-living atmosphere. Factors such as crime/safety, weather, the economy may affect your decision on where to reside or visit. This comparison will thoroughly explore these areas, providing a comprehensive insight into what each city offers to both residents and tourists.
Distance between
Santa Ana, CA and
Huntington Beach, CA : 7.6 miles
Santa Ana's population is larger by 57%. Its population has decreased by 28,536 people (8.4%) since 2000. The population of Huntington Beach has grown by 7,058 people (3.7%) during that time.
Both Santa Ana and Huntington Beach have crime rates that fall below the national average. According to NeighborhoodScout, Santa Ana has a crime rate of 28 per 1,000 residents, making it safer than 24% of U.S. cities. Huntington Beach is safer, with a crime rate of 24 per 1,000 residents, ranking safer than 43% of U.S. cities. Police presence is noticeable in both cities, ensuring safety for residents and tourists alike.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 415 registered sex offenders living in Santa Ana and 89 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Santa Ana is 805 to 1; the ratio in Huntington Beach is 2,254 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is much larger in Santa Ana than that in Huntington Beach.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in both Santa Ana and Huntington Beach is higher than the national average, typical for many locations within California. However, Huntington Beach's cost of living is generally higher than Santa Ana's, especially in terms of housing. Education, groceries, and healthcare are also slightly more expensive in Huntington Beach as compared to Santa Ana.
Income Tax
There is no city income tax in either Santa Ana or Huntington Beach, but they are subject to California state income tax. The tax rate may range from 1% to 13.3% depending on your income level.
Property Tax
The property tax rate for Santa Ana and Huntington Beach is set by Orange County, which is at 0.72% of the property's assessed value, slightly below the state average.
Sales Tax
Both cities have the same state sales tax rate of 7.25%, but different total sales tax rates - Santa Ana's total sales tax rate is currently 9.25%, and Huntington Beach's is 7.75%.
Income
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Estimated median household income
$80,265
$107,808
Estimated per capita income
$26,691
$56,934
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
88.6
89.5
If you make $50,000 in Santa Ana, you will have to make $50,508 in Huntington Beach to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Santa Ana is inland and characterized by flat terrain, while Huntington Beach is a coastal city known for its beautiful beaches and surf spots.
Both cities offer a variety of educational options. Santa Ana has a larger school district with more than 50 public schools, including several that are highly rated. Huntington Beach has fewer schools but still offers a strong education system, notable for its high school's offering the International Baccalaureate program.
Both Santa Ana and Huntington Beach have strong economies. Santa Ana's economy is driven by industries like healthcare, education, and government, while Huntington Beach's economy leans more towards aerospace, tourism, and retail. Both cities have an unemployment rate that's slightly below the national average.
Biggest Employers
In Santa Ana, the county of Orange, Ingram Micro, and Tenet Healthcare are among the biggest employers. The Huntington Beach City School District, Boeing, and Quiksilver are among the largest employers in Huntington Beach.
There were 231 building permits issued in Santa Ana in 2012 (189 more than in 2011) compared to 100 building permits issued in Huntington Beach in 2012 (76 more than in 2011).
Weather
Southern California is known for its pleasant weather, and Santa Ana and Huntington Beach are no exceptions. Both experience a comfortable Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Huntington Beach tends to have cooler summer temperatures due to its coastal location and can also experience foggy mornings. Santa Ana tends to have warmer summer temperatures and less fog due to its inland location.
Weather and climate
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Temperature - Average
65.4°F
64.3°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
69.9%
70.1%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
26.2%
26.7%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
78.3%
78.7%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
52%
52%
Precipitation - Yearly average
13.8 in
12.9 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
26.5%
26.5%
Sunshine amount - Average
78.4%
78.4%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
21.9%
21.9%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
84.8%
84.8%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
62.9%
62.9%
Wind speed - Average
5.9 mph
6 mph
Average climate in Santa Ana, California
Average climate in Huntington Beach, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
2018
124
119
0.34
0.35
14.2
14.5
27.0
26.2
N/A
N/A
27.5
27.5
12.3
12.7
0.7
0.7
2017
129
116
0.35
0.33
13.9
13.6
29.1
29.3
N/A
N/A
26.7
26.7
13.6
13.9
0.5
0.5
2016
107
102
0.35
0.31
12.6
11.8
29.2
29.9
N/A
N/A
24.1
24.1
12.7
12.4
0.2
0.2
2015
128
106
0.32
0.30
13.4
12.8
29.6
30.4
N/A
N/A
25.0
25.0
14.7
14.4
0.2
0.2
2014
127
110
0.29
0.27
13.2
12.4
28.6
29.0
N/A
N/A
26.7
26.7
15.9
15.4
0.4
0.4
2013
123
107
0.34
0.32
13.9
13.4
27.6
28.2
0.003
0.003
28.8
29.7
14.0
14.2
0.3
0.3
2012
115
103
0.31
0.27
12.9
12.1
26.7
27.1
0.004
0.004
27.5
28.3
14.5
14.3
0.1
0.1
2011
118
109
0.31
0.30
14.8
14.2
27.1
27.3
0.006
0.006
27.5
27.7
15.9
15.8
0.7
0.7
2010
107
102
0.34
0.31
14.4
13.6
26.5
26.5
0.011
0.011
23.5
23.6
14.6
13.9
0.6
0.6
2009
133
118
0.35
0.33
16.0
14.9
27.7
28.1
0.010
0.009
24.4
24.3
14.9
14.4
1.1
1.1
2008
138
124
0.38
0.38
17.1
15.7
28.2
28.7
0.010
0.010
30.1
29.3
21.6
21.6
1.1
1.1
2007
121
100
0.36
0.35
17.0
15.6
27.1
27.4
0.012
0.012
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.8
0.8
2006
120
114
0.40
0.39
17.7
16.6
26.6
26.6
0.007
0.007
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.3
1.3
2005
119
95
0.40
0.37
18.2
16.8
28.3
28.2
0.013
0.012
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.3
1.3
2004
128
119
0.50
0.49
19.4
18.5
31.2
30.6
0.014
0.014
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
1.6
2003
139
122
0.64
0.63
22.3
21.1
28.3
30.0
0.029
0.030
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.1
1.1
2002
122
106
0.66
0.63
22.3
21.2
25.1
26.3
0.019
0.018
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.7
1.7
2001
120
116
0.76
0.71
22.6
21.0
25.1
26.0
0.036
0.033
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.5
1.5
2000
127
125
0.80
0.80
25.7
23.3
23.7
24.6
0.028
0.027
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.9
1.9
Natural disasters
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
19.1%
18.5%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
6,931.4%
6,818%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
32%
32%
Transportation
Both cities have excellent transportation systems. Santa Ana has a hub for trains and buses, making commuting easy. While in Huntington Beach, public transportation is accessible, but owning a car can be more convenient due to its spread-out layout.
Transport
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
3
3
FAA registered aircraft
150
156
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
15
6
Means of transportation to work
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Bicycle
0.2%
0.4%
Bus
0.9%
1.1%
Carpooled
12%
9.8%
Car alone
83.6%
85.3%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.2%
Walked
1.4%
2%
Average travel time to work
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Average
30.4 min
25.6 min
Other means
25.5 min
30.1 min
Public transportation
48.1 min
42.2 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Average
1.2
1.1
Drove alone
84.6%
92.2%
In 2 person carpool
11.7%
6.3%
In 3 person carpool
2.7%
1%
In 4 person carpool
0.6%
0.5%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.4%
0%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Huntington Beach's real estate is generally more expensive than Santa Ana's. That said, both cities have a range of housing options suitable for different lifestyles and budgets - from apartments to single-family houses.
Neighborhoods
Santa Ana offers a mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods, known for their cultural diversity and historical architecture. On the other hand, Huntington Beach's neighborhoods are predominantly suburban, characterized by wide streets, parks, and beach proximity.
Houses and residents
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Houses
80,604
83,658
Average household size (people)
4.4
2.6
Median year apartment built
1974
1976
Median year house/condo built
1962
1971
Length of stay in the house since moving in
15.9 years
16.6 years
Houses occupied
78,674 (97.6%)
79,930 (95.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
35,317 (44.9%)
45,454 (56.9%)
Houses occupied by renters
43,357 (55.1%)
34,476 (43.1%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,407
$2,370
Median monthly housing costs
$1,836
$2,132
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$976,981
$672,773
Estimated median house or condo value
$623,000
$937,200
Median numbers of rooms
4.5
5.3
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.9
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.6
6.2
Median house price - detached houses
$724,856
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$512,474
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$351,406
$728,022
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$406,926
$577,548
Median house price - mobile homes
$125,004
$94,814
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$492,339
$754,302
Median house price - All housing units
$648,392
$992,600
Median house age
53
48
Renting percentage
52.5%
39.5%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
2,969.6
3,169.8
House value disparities
21.7%
21.8%
Household income disparities
40.4%
40.7%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$120,617
$154,344
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$74,449
$104,573
Housing units without a mortgage
318 (1.2%)
644 (2.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
1,175 (4.6%)
2,305 (8%)
Housing units with a mortgage
25,378 (98.8%)
28,306 (97.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
23 (0.1%)
132 (0.5%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
1,438 (5.6%)
2,690 (9.3%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
14
17
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
5
3
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
3.3%
0.6%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
One, detached
46.4%
50.0%
One, attached
5.8%
10.5%
Two
3.6%
1.0%
3 or 4
7.3%
13.6%
5 to 9
5.7%
4.7%
10 to 19
8.8%
5.0%
20 to 49
6.3%
2.9%
50 or more
11.0%
9.2%
Mobile homes
4.9%
3.2%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
13,591
7,644
State government workers
3,716
2,609
Unpaid family workers
355
245
Industries and Occupations
Santa Ana is home to various medical facilities driving the healthcare industry, while the government and education sectors also employ a significant portion of residents. In Huntington Beach, the aerospace industry, driven by large firms like Boeing, is significant, while tourism and retail sectors also offer plenty of job opportunities.
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
8.7%
1.1%
Production occupations
7.0%
3.7%
Healthcare support occupations
6.4%
5.5%
Management occupations
6.3%
13.6%
Business and financial operations occupations
4.8%
9.4%
Educational instruction, and library occupations
4.7%
10.3%
Personal care and service occupations
4.6%
4.2%
Material moving occupations
4.3%
1.6%
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations
3.0%
7.9%
Computer and mathematical occupations
2.0%
0.5%
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
1.7%
0.0%
Transportation occupations
1.6%
0.5%
Health technologists and technicians
1.6%
2.0%
Community and social service occupations
1.5%
3.2%
Legal occupations
1.5%
1.7%
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
1.3%
2.4%
Life, physical, and social science occupations
0.2%
1.4%
Health Care
Both cities offer excellent healthcare facilities. Santa Ana has several trusted hospitals, while Huntington Beach is home to the renowned Hoag Hospital.
Santa Ana boasts well-maintained infrastructure, including transportation, utilities, and public services. Huntington Beach also has robust infrastructure, with the addition of various environmental initiatives, including clean energy and water conservation programs.
Infrastructure
Type
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
Hospitals
9
2
TV stations
2
2
Bank branches located here
31
46
Bank institutions located here
13
19
Main business address for public companies
15
3
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Santa Ana
Huntington Beach
1999
955
756
2000
834
771
2001
725
544
2002
933
493
2003
1,222
703
2004
1,657
738
2005
2,302
952
2006
2,615
715
2007
1,456
604
2008
694
375
2009
399
232
Culture and Food
Santa Ana is known for its vibrant culture and diverse food scene with influences from its significant Hispanic population. Huntington Beach has a laid-back beach culture with numerous seafood restaurants and American cuisine.
Sports Teams
Neither city has major sports teams, but they are both a short drive from Los Angeles, home to many professional sports teams. Huntington Beach is known for its surfing culture and hosts several sports competitions annually.
Santa Ana, CA
Huntington Beach, CA
Santa Ana, CA and 
Huntington Beach, CA : 7.6 miles
