Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Meridian
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
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 39°F
Households earn $11,685 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°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 Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
Homes cost $534k less ($425,800 vs $959,800)
80% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $720/mo less ($1,548 vs $2,268)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $11,685/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$11,685
$104,981 vs $93,296/yr
Meridian
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
80% lower
146.8 vs 737.6 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$534k less
$425,800 vs $959,800
Meridian
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 6 and Meridian wins 17. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $425,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Meridian, ID are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.