Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 13 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Vallejo
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $18,869 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $444k less ($515,500 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,268)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $18,869/yr
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$18,869
$104,981 vs $86,112/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$444k less
$515,500 vs $959,800
Vallejo
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Costa Mesa leads 13 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 13 and Vallejo wins 9. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $515,500 median home), income ($104,981 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.