Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $729k less ($230,500 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1202/mo less ($1,066 vs $2,268)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $47,278/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,278 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$729k less
$230,500 vs $959,800
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 78.9°F
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$47,278
$104,981 vs $57,703/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
10% lower
737.6 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $104,981 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 42.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 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 Chattanooga to Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $959,800 median home), income ($57,703 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Costa Mesa, CA are about 1,857 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.