Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton 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
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,493 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°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)
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $718k less ($242,200 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $807/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,268)
36% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $27,493/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$27,493
$104,981 vs $77,488/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Violent Crime
36% lower
470.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$718k less
$242,200 vs $959,800
South Fulton
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and South Fulton 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $242,200 median home), income ($104,981 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and South Fulton, GA are about 1,908 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.