Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 13 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,861 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $826k less ($133,800 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1224/mo less ($1,044 vs $2,268)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $48,861/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$48,861
$104,981 vs $56,120/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
30% lower
737.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$826k less
$133,800 vs $959,800
Kansas City
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 13 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 13 and Kansas City wins 9. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $133,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Kansas City, KS are about 1,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.