Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $18,015 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
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)
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $481k less ($478,400 vs $959,800)
34% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $526/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,268)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $18,015/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$18,015
$104,981 vs $86,966/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Violent Crime
34% lower
489.7 vs 737.6 per 100k
Kent
Median Home Value
$481k less
$478,400 vs $959,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 14 and Kent 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $478,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Kent, WA are about 974 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.