Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,748 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Wayne
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $807k less ($152,500 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1364/mo less ($904 vs $2,268)
58% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $46,748/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$46,748
$104,981 vs $58,233/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
58% lower
307.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$807k less
$152,500 vs $959,800
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 8 and Fort Wayne wins 15. 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 Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $152,500 median home), income ($104,981 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.