What it's like to live in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa is a mid-size city in California with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Costa Mesa deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
How Costa Mesa compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Costa Mesa
Based on Costa Mesa's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,892
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $97,840 a year
- 52% of Costa Mesa renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$223,020
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $111,510
- Homes cost 10.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 73% above US
$2,446/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,446 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $1,115,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,115,100 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 65% above US
543 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2094/100k · Costa Mesa Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 49°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 25% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
28 public schools inside the boundary
There are 28 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (42 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Costa Mesa's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,446/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (22% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Costa Mesa
All California guides →Moving to Fountain Valley →
4 mi away · pop. 56,258
Rent $2,631/mo · Income $115,237
Compare with Costa Mesa →Moving to Newport Beach →
4 mi away · pop. 83,845
Rent $3,316/mo · Income $156,867
Compare with Costa Mesa →Moving to Santa Ana →
5 mi away · pop. 312,534
Rent $2,082/mo · Income $93,999
Compare with Costa Mesa →Not sure Costa Mesa is the one?
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