Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,616 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°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)
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $667k less ($293,000 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1054/mo less ($1,214 vs $2,268)
62% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $43,616/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$43,616
$104,981 vs $61,365/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
62% lower
276.7 vs 737.6 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$667k less
$293,000 vs $959,800
Providence
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and Providence wins 11. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $293,000 median home), income ($104,981 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Providence, RI are about 2,570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.