Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 19 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Costa Mesa
California
4
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($553,000 vs $959,800)
61% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,706 vs $2,268)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$1,033
$106,014 vs $104,981/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
61% lower
285.6 vs 737.6 per 100k
Arvada
Median Home Value
$407k less
$553,000 vs $959,800
Arvada
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $104,981 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 42.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 19 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 19 and Costa Mesa wins 4. 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 Arvada to Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $959,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Costa Mesa, CA are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.