Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Springfield
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,304 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.0%)
17% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°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 17% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $761k less ($198,500 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1221/mo less ($1,047 vs $2,268)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $57,304/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$57,304
$104,981 vs $47,677/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
17% lower
737.6 vs 891.4 per 100k
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$761k less
$198,500 vs $959,800
Springfield
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $198,500 median home), income ($104,981 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Springfield, MA are about 2,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.