Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Downey leads 12 of 21 categories
Costa Mesa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Downey
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,745 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Downey, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Homes cost $281k less ($679,000 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,814 vs $2,268)
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $20,745/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$20,745
$104,981 vs $84,236/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Downey
Violent Crime
38% lower
460.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Downey
Median Home Value
$281k less
$679,000 vs $959,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $679,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 113,052 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Downey leads 12 of 21 categories. Costa Mesa wins 9 and Downey 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $679,000 median home), income ($104,981 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Downey, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.