Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,413 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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 18% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $567k less ($392,900 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $978/mo less ($1,290 vs $2,268)
76% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $27,413/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$27,413
$104,981 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
76% lower
174.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$567k less
$392,900 vs $959,800
Orem
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Orem wins 12. 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $392,900 median home), income ($104,981 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Orem, UT are about 572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.