Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Omaha
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,779 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°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 23% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $750k less ($210,300 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1169/mo less ($1,099 vs $2,268)
50% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $34,779/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$34,779
$104,981 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
50% lower
369.0 vs 737.6 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$750k less
$210,300 vs $959,800
Omaha
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Omaha
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 9 and Omaha wins 14. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $210,300 median home), income ($104,981 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Omaha, NE are about 1,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.