Santa Ana Home Prices: $838K, Down 0.3% — 5 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)
$838,091. That’s what a typical home costs in Santa Ana right now. Prices have barely moved over the past year — down just 0.3% — but the monthly data tells a more interesting story. After sliding through summer 2025, values have climbed back in five consecutive months.
Quick answer: The average home price in Santa Ana, CA is $838,091 as of February 2026, down 0.3% year over year according to Zillow.
Current Home Prices in Santa Ana
Santa Ana sits in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro, one of the priciest markets in the country. Here’s where prices stand today.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $838,091 |
| Year-over-year change | -0.3% |
| Lowest ZIP code median | $685,693 |
| Highest ZIP code median | $1,009,589 |
| Number of ZIP codes tracked | 5 |
That -0.3% annual change barely registers. In dollar terms, the typical home lost roughly $2,500 in value compared to a year ago. For a city where the median sits above $800K, that’s essentially flat.
The price spread across neighborhoods is wide. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive ZIP code is $323,896 — a difference of 47%. Where you buy within Santa Ana matters more than when you buy.
February 2026 marked the highest median since April 2025, when prices hit $836,273. The market has nearly recovered all of its mid-year losses.
Santa Ana Home Prices by Neighborhood
Five ZIP codes make up Santa Ana’s housing market. Prices vary by more than $300K depending on the area.
| ZIP Code | Median Home Value | Avg Monthly Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 92706 | $1,009,589 | $2,950 |
| 92704 | $876,167 | $2,815 |
| 92707 | $815,010 | $2,729 |
| 92703 | $803,994 | $2,567 |
| 92701 | $685,693 | $2,638 |
Most Expensive
92706 is the only ZIP code in Santa Ana that crosses the $1 million mark, sitting at $1,009,589 — about 20% above the city average. It also commands the highest rents at $2,950/month.
92704 comes in at $876,167, roughly $38K above the citywide median. Rents here are $2,815/month, the second highest in the city.
92707 rounds out the top three at $815,010, just below the city average. Monthly rents of $2,729 land in the middle of the pack.
Most Affordable
92701 is Santa Ana’s most affordable ZIP at $685,693 — 18% below the citywide median. Despite having the lowest home values, rents here ($2,638) actually exceed those in 92703, which means landlords see relatively strong demand.
92703 carries a median of $803,994, the second most affordable. It also has the lowest rents in the city at $2,567/month, making it the cheapest place to live in Santa Ana whether you rent or buy.
Rent vs Buy in Santa Ana
Renting is cheaper than buying in every ZIP code in Santa Ana. The math isn’t close.
The citywide average rent runs about $2,740/month across all five ZIP codes. To buy the median home at $838,091, you’d need roughly $167,600 for a 20% down payment. Finance the remaining $670,473 at a 7% rate over 30 years and your monthly principal and interest alone hits approximately $4,460. Add property taxes, insurance, and maintenance, and total monthly costs push past $5,500.
| ZIP Code | Monthly Rent | Est. Monthly Mortgage* |
|---|---|---|
| 92706 | $2,950 | $5,375 |
| 92704 | $2,815 | $4,665 |
| 92703 | $2,567 | $4,280 |
| 92707 | $2,729 | $4,340 |
| 92701 | $2,638 | $3,650 |
*Estimated principal & interest only, 20% down, 7% rate, 30-year fixed.
Even in the most affordable ZIP (92701), buying costs about $1,000/month more than renting before taxes and insurance. The gap widens in 92706, where buying costs nearly double the rent.
That said, mortgage payments build equity. Renters at $2,740/month spend $32,880/year with no return. The buy decision depends on how long you plan to stay and whether you expect prices to rise.
Population Growth and Migration
Santa Ana is gaining residents. The 2024 Census estimate puts the population at 316,184, up 1.6% from 311,226 in 2020.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 311,226 |
| 2021 | 311,004 |
| 2022 | 311,755 |
| 2023 | 312,642 |
| 2024 | 316,184 |
Growth was essentially flat from 2020 to 2022. The city actually lost residents in 2021. But 2023 and 2024 brought acceleration — the population jumped by 3,542 in the most recent year alone, the largest single-year gain in this dataset.
How does Santa Ana compare to other California cities?
| City | 2024 Population | 4-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 417,468 | 3.0% |
| Sacramento | 535,798 | 1.9% |
| Santa Ana | 316,184 | 1.6% |
| San Diego | 1,404,452 | 1.4% |
| Fresno | 550,105 | 1.4% |
| Oakland | 443,554 | 0.6% |
Santa Ana’s 1.6% growth rate lands in the middle — faster than San Diego and Oakland, slower than Bakersfield and Sacramento. In a state where some cities are losing people, steady growth signals continued housing demand. More residents competing for a fixed number of homes puts upward pressure on prices.
Santa Ana Housing Market Trends
Here’s how prices moved over the past 12 months.
| Month | Median Value | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | $840,420 | — |
| Apr 2025 | $836,273 | -$4,147 |
| May 2025 | $830,914 | -$5,359 |
| Jun 2025 | $826,546 | -$4,368 |
| Jul 2025 | $824,065 | -$2,481 |
| Aug 2025 | $822,796 | -$1,269 |
| Sep 2025 | $822,579 | -$217 |
| Oct 2025 | $823,872 | +$1,293 |
| Nov 2025 | $826,299 | +$2,427 |
| Dec 2025 | $830,428 | +$4,129 |
| Jan 2026 | $834,537 | +$4,109 |
| Feb 2026 | $838,091 | +$3,554 |
The pattern is clear. Prices dropped for six straight months from March through September 2025, shedding $17,841 or about 2.1%. The decline slowed each month — by September, the drop was just $217.
Then the reversal. October marked the first gain, and prices have risen every month since. The five-month recovery has added $15,512, nearly erasing the full decline.
February’s $838,091 sits just $2,329 below the 12-month high set in March 2025. At the current pace, prices should surpass that mark within the next month or two.
Is Santa Ana a Good Place to Buy in 2026?
The data paints a stable market. Prices are essentially flat year-over-year, which means you’re not chasing a runaway market and you’re not catching a falling knife.
Five months of consecutive price gains suggest the mid-2025 dip has run its course. Buyers who purchased near the September bottom at $822,579 have already gained roughly $15,500 in equity.
Population growth adds to the case. Santa Ana added over 3,500 residents in 2024 alone. That kind of demand in a city with limited new construction tends to support prices.
The rent-vs-buy gap is the biggest challenge. With rents averaging $2,740 and mortgage payments well above $4,000, you need to stay long enough for equity gains to offset the higher monthly cost. For a short-term stay under three years, renting makes more financial sense.
If you’re planning to stay five or more years, the flat pricing environment gives you a chance to buy without overpaying. The market isn’t discounting homes, but it isn’t inflating them either.
Santa Ana Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027
The five-month upward trend suggests prices will continue rising into mid-2026. If the current pace of roughly $3,500-$4,000/month holds, the median could reach $850,000 by summer 2026.
That said, the recovery is slowing. February’s gain of $3,554 was smaller than December’s $4,129 or January’s $4,109. The upward momentum is real but decelerating.
Last year showed a seasonal pattern: prices peaked around March-April 2025 before declining through summer. If the same pattern repeats, the market may plateau or soften slightly heading into fall 2026. The 12-month trend suggests any dip would be modest — the 2025 summer decline was only about 2%.
Flat year-over-year pricing with mild seasonal swings is the most likely path forward based on what the data shows.
Similar Markets in CA
If you’re shopping in Santa Ana, these California markets are worth a look.
- Los Angeles — A much larger market just up the freeway, with a wider range of price points across its sprawling neighborhoods.
- Anaheim — Santa Ana’s immediate neighbor in Orange County, often with comparable pricing in similar ZIP codes.
- Long Beach — Coastal living south of LA, with a mix of affordable and premium areas along the waterfront.
- Riverside — Inland Empire buyers trade a longer commute for significantly lower home prices.
- San Diego — Further south along the coast, San Diego’s market offers a different lifestyle at a range of price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Santa Ana?
The average home price in Santa Ana is $838,091 as of February 2026. Prices range from $685,693 in ZIP code 92701 to $1,009,589 in ZIP code 92706. The citywide median is essentially flat compared to a year ago.
Are home prices going up or down in Santa Ana?
Prices are down 0.3% year over year, but the recent trend is upward. After declining from March through September 2025, values have risen for five consecutive months. The market has recovered nearly all of its mid-2025 losses.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Santa Ana?
Renting is significantly cheaper. Average monthly rent across Santa Ana is about $2,740, while a mortgage on the median home runs approximately $4,460/month in principal and interest alone. Even in the most affordable ZIP code, buying costs over $1,000/month more than renting before taxes and insurance.
What is the most affordable neighborhood in Santa Ana?
ZIP code 92701 has the lowest median home value at $685,693, about 18% below the citywide average. Monthly rents in 92701 average $2,638. It’s the only area in Santa Ana where you can find a typical home under $700,000.
Methodology
Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.