Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 12 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
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)
Property crime (2836.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Temecula, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Homes cost $356k less ($604,300 vs $959,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Households earn $6,900 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Temecula
Median Income
$6,900
$111,881 vs $104,981/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
79% lower
151.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Temecula
Median Home Value
$356k less
$604,300 vs $959,800
Temecula
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $604,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $2,222⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 15.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Temecula is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $604,300 median home), income ($104,981 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Temecula, CA are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.