Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler 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
Tyler
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,925 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°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 23% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $755k less ($205,200 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1155/mo less ($1,113 vs $2,268)
47% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $41,925/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$41,925
$104,981 vs $63,056/yr
Tyler
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
47% lower
391.2 vs 737.6 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$755k less
$205,200 vs $959,800
Tyler
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 103⚠ 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 | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $205,200 median home), income ($104,981 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Tyler, TX are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.