Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 15 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Reno
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,908 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 46°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $498k less ($462,100 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $908/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,268)
28% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $31,908/yr
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$31,908
$104,981 vs $73,073/yr
Reno
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Violent Crime
28% lower
529.6 vs 737.6 per 100k
Reno
Median Home Value
$498k less
$462,100 vs $959,800
Reno
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Reno leads 15 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 7 and Reno wins 15. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $462,100 median home), income ($104,981 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Reno, NV are about 420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.