Moving from Palmdale, CA to Santa Ana, CA
Moving from Palmdale, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 96 mi and about 1h 56m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully — the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.
96 mi · 1h 56m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 5, CA 14 TRUCK, US 6 HIST |
| Major cities en route | Irvine, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Corona, Jurupa Valley |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Palmdale | Santa Ana | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 113.566 | 113.566 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 158.589 | 158.589 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 106.623 | 106.623 | 100.0 |
| Services | 170.433 | 170.433 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in Santa Ana and Palmdale is within ±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) — plan your budget on category-level differences instead.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Typical home value in Santa Ana is 0.0% above Palmdale — $501,257 vs $866,066 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03). Budget the mortgage math early.
YoY change: Palmdale -1.3%, Santa Ana -0.3%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Palmdale | Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 64°F | 66°F |
| January avg low | 35°F | 49°F |
| July avg high | 98°F | 83°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 7.3" | 12.5" |
Annual average temperatures in Palmdale (63.6°F) and Santa Ana (66.1°F) stay within 5°F of each other (NOAA normals).
Santa Ana gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: PALMDALE, CA US, SANTA ANA FIRE STN, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Palmdale | Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 165,487 | 311,639 |
| Median household income | $81,151 | $88,354 |
| Median age | 33.2 | 34.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 12.8% |
| Avg household size | 3.56 | 3.91 |
Median household income in Santa Ana is 0.0% above Palmdale ($81,151 → $88,354, ACS 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Santa Ana MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 746,160 | $48,810 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 570,740 | $35,580 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 516,960 | $40,560 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 494,430 | $39,510 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 461,490 | $33,530 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Dry climate: Santa Ana sees only 12.5 in of precipitation a year. A humidifier helps keep wood furniture from cracking and is easier on skin and sinuses.
- Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October — register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How much do homes cost in Santa Ana compared to Palmdale?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $866,066 in Santa Ana vs $501,257 in Palmdale — a 72.8% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does the job market in Santa Ana compare to Palmdale?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $50,490 in the Santa Ana MSA vs $50,490 in the Palmdale MSA, on total employment of 6,185,570 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
When is the best time to move from Palmdale to Santa Ana?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 96 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does household income compare in Palmdale vs Santa Ana?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $88,354 in Santa Ana vs $81,151 in Palmdale — a 8.9% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is Santa Ana, CA from Palmdale, CA?
The driving distance is 96 mi and the route typically takes 1h 56m via I 5 and CA 14 TRUCK. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
What is the climate difference between Palmdale and Santa Ana?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 66.1°F in Santa Ana vs 63.6°F in Palmdale (2.5°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 12.5 in vs 7.3 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Palmdale.
City profiles: Palmdale, CA · Santa Ana, CA.