Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $19,128 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $419k less ($540,400 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $603/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,268)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $19,128/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$19,128
$104,981 vs $85,853/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
26% lower
737.6 vs 993.0 per 100k
Denver
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$419k less
$540,400 vs $959,800
Denver
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $85,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 15.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Denver wins 12. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $540,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Denver, CO are about 834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.