At a Glance
Median Income
$110,073
$56,625 per capita
Home Value
$1,054,700
Zillow: $1,411,696
Median Rent
$2,395/mo
31.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
734/100K
2,878/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
43.6%
87.8% high school+
Unemployment
4.9%
5.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
25.7%
9.7% smoking rate
How Costa Mesa Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Costa Mesa's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Costa Mesa a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Costa Mesa residents earn a median household income of $110,073 , which is 46% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $56,625. The unemployment rate stands at 4.9% (36% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 148,394 business establishments, including 8,853 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Costa Mesa is $1,054,700 , 274% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,411,696. Median rent is $2,395/month, with 31.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1971.
Safety & Crime
Costa Mesa reports 734 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 93% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,878/100K. The murder rate is 2.8/100K.
Education
43.6% of adults in Costa Mesa hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(29% above the national average).
87.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Costa Mesa has an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C).
Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 11.2 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 54.
Data Overview
People
Population110,538
Median Age36.5 yrs
Density6,992/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born22.8%
Veterans3.4%
Economy
A+
Median Income$110,073
Per Capita$56,625
Unemployment4.9%
Poverty5.2%
County GDP$351,753M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,565
Housing
F
Home Value$1,054,700
Rent$2,395
Ownership39.4%
Zillow$1,411,696
Housing Units43,409
Rent Burden31.2%
Crime
F
Violent734/100K
Property2,878/100K
Murder2.8/100K
Assault595/100K
Burglary373/100K
Health
Obesity25.7%
Diabetes9.5%
Smoking9.7%
Heart Disease4.9%
Premature Death5,325/100K
Climate
Avg Temp65°F
Rain11.2 in/yr
AQI54 (Moderate)
Elevation72 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+43.6%
High School+87.8%
Graduate+12.9%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 47% / D 50%
Commute22 min
Broadband95.4%
Internet Speed153 Mbps
EV Stations108
Libraries67
Did You Know?
Costa Mesa was founded in 1776.
The median home in Costa Mesa was built in 1971.
20.0% work from home.
The nearest airport is John Wayne/Orange County (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.468 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
8.5% of the population has a disability.
22.8% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 153 Mbps.
There are 8,853 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 238 fatal vehicle crashes.
364 declared natural disasters on record.