Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°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)
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $547k less ($412,500 vs $959,800)
79% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Rent averages $569/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,268)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$698
$105,679 vs $104,981/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
79% lower
151.6 vs 737.6 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$547k less
$412,500 vs $959,800
Plano
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 4 and Plano wins 19. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $412,500 median home), income ($104,981 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Plano, TX are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.