Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,825 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°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
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $848k less ($111,400 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1273/mo less ($995 vs $2,268)
21% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $60,825/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$60,825
$104,981 vs $44,156/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
21% lower
582.3 vs 737.6 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$848k less
$111,400 vs $959,800
Rochester
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 13 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.