Riverside vs Santa Ana: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Riverside, CA and Santa Ana, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 316,076 | 311,379 |
| Median household income | $83,448 | $84,210 |
| Median home value | $485,500 | $624,000 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,711 | $1,885 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Riverside, CA and Santa Ana, CA comes down to what you value most. Riverside has the lower median home value, and Riverside has the lower median rent.
Santa Ana has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Riverside or Santa Ana?
- By median home value, Riverside is the cheaper of the two ($485,500 vs $624,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Riverside or Santa Ana?
- Median household income is $83,448 in Riverside versus $84,210 in Santa Ana, per the US Census Bureau.