Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $286/mo less ($2,268 vs $2,554)
Homes cost $113k less ($959,800 vs $1,073,100)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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)
Property crime (2836.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Daly City by $9,929/yr
Daly City, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 79°F
Households earn $9,929 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Longer commutes — 29.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Costa Mesa
Median Home Value
$113k less
$959,800 vs $1,073,100
Costa Mesa
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 78.9°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Median Income
$9,929
$114,910 vs $104,981/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
60% lower
296.3 vs 737.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $114,910 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 20.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Costa Mesa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 15 and Daly City 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 Costa Mesa to Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($104,981 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Daly City, CA are about 377 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.