Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 22 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
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°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)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $649k less ($311,100 vs $959,800)
87% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,622 vs $2,268)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.2%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$6,142
$111,123 vs $104,981/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
87% lower
95.9 vs 737.6 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$649k less
$311,100 vs $959,800
Pearland
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 64.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 6 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $311,100 median home), income ($104,981 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Pearland, TX are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.