Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
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 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,102 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°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)
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($491,800 vs $959,800)
88% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,861 vs $2,268)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $7,102/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$7,102
$104,981 vs $97,879/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Violent Crime
88% lower
85.0 vs 737.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$468k less
$491,800 vs $959,800
Norwalk
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $97,879 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 8 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $491,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Norwalk, CT are about 2,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.