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Costa Mesa

#39 in Best Cities for Young Professionals in America
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • City in California
  • 121 reviews
    A-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      D+
    4. Nightlife
      A+
    5. Good for Families
      B+
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      C+
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A+
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Costa Mesa is a city in California with a population of 112,930. Costa Mesa is in Orange County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Costa Mesa offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Costa Mesa there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Costa Mesa and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Costa Mesa are highly rated.
    About Costa Mesa...
    Population
    112,930

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $671,800
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,722
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      61%
    • Own
      39%
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    Costa Mesa Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Costa Mesa Neighborhood Map

    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

      Crime & Safety

      Crime & Safety
      C+
      Based on violent and property crime rates.
      Violent Crimes
      • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
      National
      • Assault
        136.4
        282.7
      • Murder
        2.6
        6.1
      • Rape
        65.6
        40.7
      • Robbery
        96.2
        135.5
      Property Crimes
      • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
      National
      • Burglary
        450.3
        500.1
      • Theft
        2,601.5
        2,042.8
      • Motor Vehicle Theft
        264.1
        284

      Residents

      Diversity
      A+
      Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
      Age
      • <10 years
        11%
      • 10-17 years
        9%
      • 18-24 years
        10%
      • 25-34 years
        21%
      • 35-44 years
        15%
      • 45-54 years
        13%
      • 55-64 years
        10%
      • 65+ years
        10%
      Education Levels
      National
      • Master's degree or higher
        11%
        12%
      • Bachelor's degree
        27%
        19%
      • Some college or associate's degree
        28%
        29%
      • High school diploma or equivalent
        17%
        28%
      • Less than high school diploma
        16%
        13%

      Working in Costa Mesa

      Jobs
      C+
      Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
      Median Household Income
      $75,109
      National
      $55,322
      Search for Jobs in Costa Mesa
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      Costa Mesa Reviews

      121 reviews
      All Categories
      Great City, very safe and lots to do! It has grown in the last 10 years, It is a very affordable place to be and there is lot of activities and restaurants. It is a very safe place to live and the people are very friendly. If you want diversity this is the place to be , there is a multicultural group of people with different types of restaurants and things to do
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      Living in Costa Mesa is not only convenient, but it is fun and extremely safe! While the cost of living tends to be on the more expensive side, you get what you pay for: a clean, safe, active, easily-accessible, not-too-overpopulated place to call your home! Since moving to Orange County to finish my bachelors degree, I have never thought to live elsewhere. Bonus, it’s only 10-15 minutes away from the beach!
      I absolutely love living in Costa Mesa! I feel that regardless of the area in Costa mesa that you find yourself in, there is always a sense of calmness and safety. The worst thing at times, but that is understandable, is the traffic after work hours during the main streets.