Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,624 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°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
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $501k less ($458,600 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1014/mo less ($1,254 vs $2,268)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $32,624/yr
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$32,624
$104,981 vs $72,357/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
15% lower
737.6 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$501k less
$458,600 vs $959,800
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Salt Lake City wins 12. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $458,600 median home), income ($104,981 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.