Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,247 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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)
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $632k less ($328,100 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1248/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,268)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $52,247/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$52,247
$104,981 vs $52,734/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fall River
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$632k less
$328,100 vs $959,800
Fall River
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 13 and Fall River wins 10. 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 Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $328,100 median home), income ($104,981 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Fall River, MA are about 2,587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.