Moving from Santa Ana, CA to Simi Valley, CA
Moving from Santa Ana, CA to Simi Valley, CA covers 74 mi and about 1h 30m 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.
74 mi · 1h 30m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 5, CA 118 |
| Major cities en route | Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Corona, Jurupa Valley |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Santa Ana | Simi Valley | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 113.566 | 110.534 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 158.589 | 152.925 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 106.623 | 105.168 | 100.0 |
| Services | 170.433 | 171.096 | 100.0 |
Cost-of-living overlap: BEA RPP for Santa Ana (113.566) and Simi Valley (110.534) are within a few points of each other.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Home prices line up — $866,066 vs $844,909 on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).
YoY change: Santa Ana -0.3%, Simi Valley -2.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Santa Ana | Simi Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 66°F | 66°F |
| January avg low | 49°F | 43°F |
| July avg high | 83°F | 95°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 12.5" | 16.4" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Effectively snow-free year in Simi Valley — NOAA normals show near-zero annual snowfall.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SANTA ANA FIRE STN, CA US, WOODLAND HILLS PIERCE COLLEGE, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Santa Ana | Simi Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 311,639 | 125,769 |
| Median household income | $88,354 | $117,703 |
| Median age | 34.3 | 41.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 24.9% |
| Avg household size | 3.91 | 2.84 |
Median household income in Simi Valley is 2.7% above Santa Ana ($88,354 vs $117,703, ACS 5-year 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Simi Valley MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 35,690 | $47,840 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 33,940 | $34,820 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 29,050 | $37,470 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 23,520 | $39,670 |
| Management Occupations | 20,990 | $124,680 |
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
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Simi Valley average 95°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- 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
Is Simi Valley more expensive than Santa Ana?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Simi Valley is 2.7% lower than Santa Ana (110.534 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
When is the best time to move from Santa Ana to Simi Valley?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 74 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Santa Ana and Simi Valley?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 66.3°F in Simi Valley vs 66.1°F in Santa Ana (0.2°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 16.4 in vs 12.5 in.
How does the job market in Simi Valley compare to Santa Ana?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,380 in the Simi Valley MSA vs $50,490 in the Santa Ana MSA, on total employment of 315,720 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How far is Simi Valley, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance is 74 mi and the route typically takes 1h 30m via I 5 and CA 118. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How much do homes cost in Simi Valley compared to Santa Ana?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $844,909 in Simi Valley vs $866,066 in Santa Ana — a 2.4% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does household income compare in Santa Ana vs Simi Valley?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $117,703 in Simi Valley vs $88,354 in Santa Ana — a 33.2% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Santa Ana.
City profiles: Santa Ana, CA · Simi Valley, CA.