Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Costa Mesa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Households earn $32,406 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $127k less ($833,300 vs $959,800)
Cons
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $32,406/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$32,406
$137,387 vs $104,981/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
66% lower
254.4 vs 737.6 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$127k less
$833,300 vs $959,800
Arlington
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $104,981 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 42.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 16 and Costa Mesa wins 7. 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 Arlington to Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $959,800 median home), income ($137,387 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Costa Mesa, CA are about 2,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.