Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 21 categories
Costa Mesa
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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)
Property crime (2836.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Orange, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $112k less ($848,200 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($2,148 vs $2,268)
Households earn $4,354 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Orange
Median Income
$4,354
$109,335 vs $104,981/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
69% lower
226.1 vs 737.6 per 100k
Orange
Median Home Value
$112k less
$848,200 vs $959,800
Orange
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $2,148⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 21 categories. Costa Mesa wins 6 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($104,981 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Orange, CA are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.