Moving from Santa Ana, CA to Richmond, CA
Moving from Santa Ana, CA to Richmond, CA covers 417 mi and about 7h 48m 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.
417 mi · 7h 48m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 5, I 580, I 5 TRUCK |
| Major cities en route | Irvine, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Corona, Anaheim |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Santa Ana | Richmond | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 113.566 | 115.613 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 158.589 | 172.585 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 106.623 | 108.465 | 100.0 |
| Services | 170.433 | 194.718 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in Richmond and Santa Ana 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 Richmond is 1.8% below Santa Ana — $866,066 vs $606,427 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).
YoY change: Santa Ana -0.3%, Richmond -5.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Santa Ana | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 66°F | 59°F |
| January avg low | 49°F | 44°F |
| July avg high | 83°F | 71°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 12.5" | 24.4" |
Richmond is 7.3°F cooler on the annual average (66.1°F vs 58.8°F, NOAA 1991–2020).
Richmond 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: SANTA ANA FIRE STN, CA US, RICHMOND, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Santa Ana | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 311,639 | 115,396 |
| Median household income | $88,354 | $90,038 |
| Median age | 34.3 | 37.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 20.2% |
| Avg household size | 3.91 | 2.85 |
Median household incomes in Santa Ana ($88,354) and Richmond ($90,038) are within a few percent (ACS 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Richmond MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 244,380 | $59,630 |
| Management Occupations | 237,070 | $171,350 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 211,250 | $104,950 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 194,040 | $39,200 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 183,930 | $49,390 |
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
- 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 does the job market in Richmond compare to Santa Ana?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $72,050 in the Richmond MSA vs $50,490 in the Santa Ana MSA, on total employment of 2,422,210 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How far is Richmond, CA from Santa Ana, CA?
The driving distance is 417 mi and the route typically takes 7h 48m via I 5 and I 580. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How much do homes cost in Richmond compared to Santa Ana?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $606,427 in Richmond vs $866,066 in Santa Ana — a 30.0% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
Is Richmond more expensive than Santa Ana?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Richmond is 1.8% higher than Santa Ana (115.613 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does household income compare in Santa Ana vs Richmond?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $90,038 in Richmond vs $88,354 in Santa Ana — a 1.9% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
When is the best time to move from Santa Ana to Richmond?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 417 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 Richmond?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 58.8°F in Richmond vs 66.1°F in Santa Ana (7.3°F colder). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 24.4 in vs 12.5 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Santa Ana.
City profiles: Santa Ana, CA · Richmond, CA.