Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
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 47°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kirkland by $30,627/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2836.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kirkland, WA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Households earn $30,627 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Homes cost $22k less ($937,700 vs $959,800)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$30,627
$135,608 vs $104,981/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
92% lower
60.6 vs 737.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Median Home Value
$22k less
$937,700 vs $959,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Kirkland, 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 | $937,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $2,250⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 24.9% ✓ 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 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 7 and Kirkland wins 15. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $937,700 median home), income ($104,981 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.