Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Modesto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,606 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°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)
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $578k less ($381,800 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,268)
11% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $31,606/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$31,606
$104,981 vs $73,375/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Violent Crime
11% lower
655.7 vs 737.6 per 100k
Modesto
Median Home Value
$578k less
$381,800 vs $959,800
Modesto
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Modesto wins 11. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $381,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Modesto, CA are about 325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.