Moving from Davie, FL to Santa Ana, CA
It is 2703 mi and 47h 30m from Davie to Santa Ana — a cross-country move across 8 states. Housing, cost of living, climate, and tax picture all tend to shift substantially at this distance. This page pulls the current figures from each federal source and Zillow Research into one comparison.
2703 mi · 47h 30m by car · CA → AZ → NM → TX → LA → MS → AL → FL
Distance & route
| Route through | CA → AZ → NM → TX → LA → MS → AL → FL |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, US 180, TX 130 |
| Major cities en route | Long Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Torrance |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Davie | Santa Ana | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 114.155 | 113.566 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 97.235 | 158.589 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 103.556 | 106.623 | 100.0 |
| Services | 155.551 | 170.433 | 100.0 |
Davie and Santa Ana sit within 5% on the overall BEA RPP — the composite diff is small, but rent or groceries alone may move more.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Zillow ZHVI climbs from $515,020 in Davie to $866,066 in Santa Ana, a 0.5% increase on the typical home value.
YoY change: Davie -4.6%, Santa Ana -0.3%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Davie | Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 76°F | 66°F |
| January avg low | 58°F | 49°F |
| July avg high | 90°F | 83°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 68.8" | 12.5" |
Expect 9.8°F colder year-round on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals.
Snowfall is a non-factor at the destination: Santa Ana sees under an inch a year per NOAA normals.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: FT LAUDERDALE, FL US, SANTA ANA FIRE STN, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Davie | Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 106,412 | 311,639 |
| Median household income | $87,171 | $88,354 |
| Median age | 37.2 | 34.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 12.8% |
| Avg household size | 2.77 | 3.91 |
Household income lines up — $87,171 vs $88,354 on ACS 5-year 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.
Moving between Florida and California
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check California's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
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.
- I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
- Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
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.
- Register to vote in California after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
How does the job market in Santa Ana compare to Davie?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $50,490 in the Santa Ana MSA vs $46,510 in the Davie MSA, on total employment of 6,185,570 and 2,721,490 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How far is Santa Ana, CA from Davie, FL?
The driving distance is 2703 mi and the route typically takes 47h 30m via I 10 and US 180. The trip crosses 8 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is Santa Ana more expensive than Davie?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Santa Ana is 0.5% lower than Davie (113.566 vs 114.155, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in Santa Ana compared to Davie?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $866,066 in Santa Ana vs $515,020 in Davie — a 68.2% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does household income compare in Davie vs Santa Ana?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $88,354 in Santa Ana vs $87,171 in Davie — a 1.4% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
What is the climate difference between Davie and Santa Ana?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 66.1°F in Santa Ana vs 75.9°F in Davie (9.8°F colder). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 12.5 in vs 68.8 in.
When is the best time to move from Davie 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 2703 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Davie.
City profiles: Davie, FL · Santa Ana, CA.