Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($959,800 vs $1,348,700)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Francisco by $31,708/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2836.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Francisco, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Households earn $31,708 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 79°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Property crime (3929.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Costa Mesa
Median Home Value
$389k less
$959,800 vs $1,348,700
Costa Mesa
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 78.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$31,708
$136,689 vs $104,981/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
19% lower
596.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Costa Mesa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($104,981 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.