Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 13 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
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
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 107°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,674 more per year on average
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)
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $564k less ($396,100 vs $959,800)
75% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $557/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,268)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $7,674/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$7,674
$104,981 vs $97,307/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Goodyear
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Violent Crime
75% lower
182.2 vs 737.6 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$564k less
$396,100 vs $959,800
Goodyear
Summer Heat
28.5°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $97,307 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 70 ✓ 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 | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 66.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 13 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 9 and Goodyear wins 13. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $396,100 median home), income ($104,981 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Goodyear, AZ are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.