Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,648 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 102°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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 19% higher than St. George
St. George, UT
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($415,200 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $933/mo less ($1,335 vs $2,268)
72% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $35,648/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$35,648
$104,981 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
72% lower
210.0 vs 737.6 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$545k less
$415,200 vs $959,800
St. George
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 8 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($104,981 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and St. George, UT are about 339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.