Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,295 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°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)
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $700k less ($259,500 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $845/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,268)
63% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $28,295/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$28,295
$104,981 vs $76,686/yr
Irving
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
63% lower
275.4 vs 737.6 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$700k less
$259,500 vs $959,800
Irving
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Irving wins 12. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $259,500 median home), income ($104,981 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Irving, TX are about 1,209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.