Downtown Santa Ana
$387,345
Average Value
Historic downtown with hip businesses moving into the neighborhood
Santa Ana’s historic downtown consists of a buzzy few blocks between Santa Ana Boulevard and First Street. Locally owned shops sell everything from vintage records to hardware, and there is a Food4Less for groceries and essentials. “Downtown has a lot of restaurants and boutique retailers, and you’ve got younger, hipper businesses moving in,” Schaefer says. “It’s a real mix, which I love because it makes it fun.” For dining out, several exciting and inventive restaurants are clustered around the neighborhood. Set on West Fourth Street, Cafe Cultura is a laid-back establishment serving casual Mexican fare, espresso drinks and handcrafted sodas. The wood paneling, exposed brick and mosaic-tiled floor create a rustic and welcoming ambiance. The Yost Theater is a one-time Vaudeville theater that's now a live music venue hosting shows most weeks. Catch a movie at The Frida Cinema, which plays a selection of avant-garde, independent and student films as well as animated movies and cult classics.
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Condos that won't break the budget by California standards
In Downtown Santa Ana, “the housing is mostly condos, and they’re pretty affordable,” Schaefer says. The condo buildings were built in the early 1980s, but some have been completely remodeled. Pricing ranges from around $250,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bath with about 700 square feet to $450,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit with around 1,000 square feet. The streets downtown are busy and known for a lot of stop-and-go traffic. Buildings are packed in high-density stretches mostly lined with street parking. Regarding new construction in and around downtown, Schaefer says the focus is on high-density housing, though not necessarily affordable housing, which he says is a need in the city and the rest of California.
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Birch Park has grassy areas, shade trees and exercise equipment
Downtown Santa Ana doesn’t have abundant green space, but there are a few community parks. Near the intersection of Ross Street and Santa Ana Boulevard, Sasscer Park is a one-acre urban plaza with a fountain that is surrounded by concrete seating areas. Set on nearly three acres near Third and Ross streets, Birch Park has outdoor exercise equipment, open green grass and shade trees. Also on-site is the Santa Ana Senior Center, which offers residents aged 55 and older a space to spend time together and stay active. Painted with public art and popular with children playing, Angels Community Park at Olive and Third streets has a baseball field and multiple basketball courts.
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The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates Asian cultures
Santa Ana fosters a sense of community through events that bring out people from all over the city. Many of the events have been established in recent years. The ArtWalk occurs on the first Saturday of each month — dozens of local vendors set up shop, and over 20 art galleries and studios are open to the public. Summer movies and concerts in the park are hosted at different parks between June and August. The Chicano Heritage Festival and the Fiestas Patrias celebrate the city’s rich Mexican-America history. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, celebrates Asian cultures — the city has a substantial Vietnamese population. Brew at the Zoo in June is a calendar highlight for the 21-and-up crowd, appealing to both beer and animal enthusiasts. Plaza Navidena and the Santa Ana Winter Village come to life during the holiday season.
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Santa Ana High School offers enriching after-school programs
Santa Ana Unified is an above-average public school system with a B-plus grade from Niche but an A in teachers and college prep. Garfield Elementary is a walkable community school graded C-plus by Niche. Williard Intermediate School is graded C by Niche. The oldest and largest high school in Orange County, Santa Ana High School was established in 1889. Graded B-minus by Niche, but with a B-plus in clubs and activities, SAHS offers many after-school programs like the crochet club, DIY club, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Polynesian dance, to name just a few. “The school is in a beautiful, dramatic art deco building that is really well done,” Schaefer says.
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Downtown trolley to be completed in 2025 and higher than average crime
Although most residents don't necessarily make the commute, Santa Ana is about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles — a drive that can take up to two hours via Interstate 5, depending on the time of day. More likely commuting destinations are nearby Orange, Irvine and Anaheim, all located along Interstate 5. "It's super convenient living here. You're very centrally located with about a 10-minute drive to John Wayne Airport, Disneyland and Angel Stadium," Schaefer says. There is local congestion, particularly along First Street in midtown, but the city has a large-scale traffic management system working to eliminate bottlenecks. Though a car is ideal, Downtown Santa Ana is uniquely walkable, with several bus routes running on the major thoroughfares. The Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) provides access to Metrolink, Amtrak, the Orange County Transit Authority, intercity and interstate bus transportation, and airport and taxi services all in one location. "Downtown has a trolley that has been under construction for years and is set to open in 2025. It's in the final phases," Schaefer says. "This is going to be a cool thing that nobody else in Orange County has." The 4-mile street car will connect the SARTC to Garden Grove's new transit hub.Downtown Santa Ana has a higher crime rate than the national average. The neighborhood’s CAP Index Crime Score is 7 out of 10, compared to 4 nationally. Both violent and property crimes occur at a much higher rate than the national average.
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Written By
Amber Steinmetz-Cole
Photography Contributed By
Samuel Evans
Video By
Luke Mancari
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Dinorah Carmenate
Dinorah Carmenate
Properties By Dinorah
(657) 425-0747
51 Total Sales
4 in Downtown Santa Ana
$265K - $345K Price Range
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Rudy Kusuma
Rudy Kusuma
Responds QuicklyPartner Real Estate
(916) 249-4078
202 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Santa Ana
$270,000 Price
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Danny Rodriguez
Danny Rodriguez
Kairos Real Estate Partners
(949) 979-5976
34 Total Sales
4 in Downtown Santa Ana
$244K - $287K Price Range
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Rodrigo Chavez
Rodrigo Chavez
EMPIRE REALTY GROUP
(909) 787-1951
69 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Santa Ana
$315,000 Price
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Muyleang Kaing
Muyleang Kaing
Partner Real Estate
(562) 358-5926
49 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Santa Ana
$270,000 Price
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Andrew Warburton
Andrew Warburton
Responds QuicklyWarburton Properties
(424) 419-1837
748 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Santa Ana
$349,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 8th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
French Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Angels Community Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
Chepa's Park
- Basketball
- Playground
Birch Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Parking Lot
Sasscer Park
- Trails
Saddleback View Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Santa Ana | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 8 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9 | 4 |
| Larceny | 7 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
210
Median Year Built
2010
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
2,414
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,539
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$2,830 - $3,200 per month
- Artists Village Apartments
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 973 Sq Ft
- 301 W 2nd St
- Santa Ana, CA
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,436
Median Age
39
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$26,447
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$51,338
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
50.4%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
20.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.7%
% Population in Labor Force
59.4%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
67
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
95
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
52
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Washington Square
Unique homes, picturesque streets and a strong community in Santa Ana
Pico-Lowell
A walkable residential neighborhood near downtown Santa Ana
Willard
This Santa Ana community offers suburban living with urban convenience
Heninger Park
Walkable streets and remodeled Craftsman homes in downtown Santa Ana
Pacific Park
One-story Spanish-style houses with brightly-colored flowers near an e-bike trail
French Court
A Santa Ana neighborhood with Craftsman homes walkable to restaurants and museums
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