Athens, GA vs Costa Mesa, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Athens
67.2
#1448 nationally
Costa Mesa
60.6
#1929 nationally
Costa Mesa leads in walk score (65 vs 27). Costa Mesa leads in median household income ($104,981 vs $48,692). Athens leads in cost of living index (101 vs 197).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Athens, GA | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1448) | 60.6 (#1929) |
| Population | 129,933 | 108,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $344,516 | $1,424,322 |
| Median Household Income | $48,692 | $104,981 |
| Average Commute | 21.1 min | 21.9 min |
| Walk Score | 27 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 11.1 | 20.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 197 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.3 | D+2.6 |
D+
67.2 Score
Athens, GA
Mid-size Georgia city with community character
Median Home
$344,516
Population
129,933
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
27
Southeast
View Athens, GA →
D-
60.6 Score
Costa Mesa, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,424,322
Population
108,354
Crime
High
Walk Score
65
Pacific
View Costa Mesa, CA →
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