Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Hesperia
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,283 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°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)
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $622k less ($337,600 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $832/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,268)
30% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $37,283/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$37,283
$104,981 vs $67,698/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Violent Crime
30% lower
519.6 vs 737.6 per 100k
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$622k less
$337,600 vs $959,800
Hesperia
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and Hesperia 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $337,600 median home), income ($104,981 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Hesperia, CA are about 61 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.