Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 21 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,614 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 98°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)
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $591k less ($368,800 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $692/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,268)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $33,614/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$33,614
$104,981 vs $71,367/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
12% lower
737.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$591k less
$368,800 vs $959,800
Lancaster
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 21 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and Lancaster 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $368,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Lancaster, CA are about 73 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.