Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 11 of 21 categories
Anaheim
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($713,600 vs $959,800)
19% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $310/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,268)
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $16,443/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 28.4 min average each way
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,443 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Violent Crime
19% lower
596.2 vs 737.6 per 100k
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$246k less
$713,600 vs $959,800
Anaheim
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 78.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$16,443
$104,981 vs $88,538/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $104,981 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 42.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 11 of 21 categories. Anaheim wins 10 and Costa Mesa wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $959,800 median home), income ($88,538 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Costa Mesa, CA are about 16 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.