Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Wichita
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,269 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Wichita
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $793k less ($166,400 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1353/mo less ($915 vs $2,268)
27% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $44,269/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$44,269
$104,981 vs $60,712/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
27% lower
538.6 vs 737.6 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$793k less
$166,400 vs $959,800
Wichita
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 9 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,185 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.