Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,222 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($383,600 vs $959,800)
65% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,268)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $18,222/yr
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$18,222
$104,981 vs $86,759/yr
Peoria
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Violent Crime
65% lower
254.7 vs 737.6 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$576k less
$383,600 vs $959,800
Peoria
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.0% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
25.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 5 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $383,600 median home), income ($104,981 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 322 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.