Apartments for Rent in Santa Ana, CA - 89 Rentals available

Renter's Guide to Santa Ana

Welcome to sunny Santa Ana!

This Southern California city is just 10 miles away from the coast, a short 8.5 miles from Anaheim, 13 miles from Newport Beach, and 32 miles from Los Angeles. With a size of 27 square-miles, it would take about 18 Santa Ana’s to fill the city of LA.

Forbes ranked Santa Ana the fourth-safest city in the country making it a very desirable place to live.

If its safety or proximity to Los Angeles isn’t enough to convince you, consider the great weather, with average summer highs of 83ºF and mild winter lows of 47ºF. Factor in relatively little rainfall – about 13 inches per year – and the light breezes of the famed Santa Ana Winds, and it’s practically paradise.

Cost of Living in Santa Ana, CA

The cost of living in Santa Ana is much higher than the rest of the United States.

A month of basic utilities in a 915 square-foot apartment is roughly $211, while the national average is $147. Meanwhile, a three-course meal for two people will cost around $55 on average, and a morning Cappuccino will be about $3.62.

Beating the traffic in Santa Ana is easy with the Orange County Transit Authority bus system. The regular fare for adults is $2, with discounts for seniors and children. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes are also available.

Another option is the Metrolink commuter train line, which runs through five Southern California counties. Fares start as low as $3 and vary depending on where you get on and off.

Living in Santa Ana, CA

One of the many pros of living in Santa Ana is its diverse population. The city has a large Hispanic population, whose culture has melded right into the suburban landscape. It's also a highly walkable and bikeable city, thanks to improvements like plentiful sidewalks and larger lanes for bikes. 

But because it doesn’t get much rain per year, Santa Ana is also one of the most drought-prone areas in the country, which puts it at risk of wildfires. And when the Santa Ana Winds hit full force in fall and winter, they only add fuel to the flames, causing any wildfires to spread more rapidly.

Things to do in Santa Ana

Santa Ana was voted the 20^th Coolest City in America in 2014 for its culture, revitalization efforts, and commitment to innovation.

One of the coolest annual events in Santa Ana is the Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival. The event originated in Santa Ana, but now takes place in 5 other cities throughout the U.S and features more than 100 artists.

Another neat attraction is the Discovery Cube, which is a hands-on science museum sponsored by the Discovery Science Foundation, offering interactive activities for kids and parents. Then there's the Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park, where you can visit more than 250 animals and exhibits.

Centennial Park is another fun place to relax outdoors, which features a playground and a lake. Several local parks also have public swimming pools, including Memorial Park, Jerome Park, and Santa Anita.

If you're a risk seeker, the Santa Ana Skatepark is a top destination for skateboarders throughout the SoCal area. And of course, Disneyland is just a few miles away in Anaheim, where you can enjoy awesome rides and meet your favorite Disney characters.

Even sports fans are in luck, since Santa Ana is just a short drive from the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers of the NBA, the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, and the Anaheim Angels of the MLB.

Culture in Santa Ana

Santa Ana offers plenty of cultural opportunities, like Shakespeare by the Sea, which takes place at Birch Park. Then there's the OC Pavilion Performing Arts Theatre downtown, where you can check out local theatrical performances. And the Yost Theatre is a historic setting for local and national music acts and other music-related performances.

For an art fix, visit the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana’s Artist Village. The Center features films, workshops, and classes, as well as exhibits. Another stop in the Artist Village is the Grand Central Art Center. And bookworms and intellectuals will be happy to know that the excellent Santa Ana Public Library was recently awarded a 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service by The Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Hector G. Godinez High School is also nationally and state-ranked, while nearby Mater Dei High School’s baseball team earns a place among the top 25 high school baseball teams in the country.

Employment and Economy

As the county seat of Orange County, Santa Ana’s biggest employer is the government, with tourism coming in a close second.

The corporate headquarters for several major companies are housed in or around Santa Ana, including Behr Paint, CoreLogic, First American Corporation, and Ingram Micro, the world's largest wholesale technology products distributor. Meanwhile, Xerox Corporation and T-Mobile both have regional headquarters in Santa Ana.

These companies also make up some of the biggest employers in the city.

Education in Santa Ana

Santa Ana College is a two-year college that attracts numerous applicants each year, who are looking to earn their associate's degree or get a jump-start on a bachelor's. The Art Institute of California also has a branch in Santa Ana, and California Coast University, a four-year correspondence college, is located here as well.

For younger students, the Santa Ana Unified School District offers more than 35 elementary schools and eight high schools. The Orange County School of the Arts is located downtown and features programs for visual and performing arts in grades 7-12. It's ranked the 72^nd best school in California and within the top 500 schools in the U.S.

Tips for Renting in Santa Ana

Ready to pack your bags? Well, before your do, we want to give you an idea of what to expect when it comes to local tenant laws.

For starters, there are only four situations where your landlord can hold your security deposit after you move out. That includes unpaid rent, cleaning fees, repair fees for normal wear and damages, or replacing any personal property damaged by the tenant.

In all other cases, they're required to return your deposit in full.

The landlord must also give 30 days’ notice if they want you to vacate your rental. However, if a severe violation of the lease occurs – like irreparable damage to the unit, drug dealing, or injury to a fellow tenant – the owner has the right to a 3-day termination of the lease.