Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Orlando
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,689 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Orlando
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 92°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)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $627k less ($332,700 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $759/mo less ($1,509 vs $2,268)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $38,689/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$38,689
$104,981 vs $66,292/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
12% lower
737.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
Orlando
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$627k less
$332,700 vs $959,800
Orlando
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and Orlando wins 10. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $332,700 median home), income ($104,981 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Orlando, FL are about 2,189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.