Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Rent averages $85/mo less ($2,268 vs $2,353)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $43,246/yr
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)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
81% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Homes cost $322k less ($637,400 vs $959,800)
Households earn $43,246 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$43,246
$148,227 vs $104,981/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
81% lower
138.1 vs 737.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$322k less
$637,400 vs $959,800
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 6 and Highlands Ranch wins 17. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $637,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.