Costa Mesa, CA vs Darien, IL
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.
Costa Mesa
60.6
#1929 nationally
Darien
75.1
#500 nationally
Darien leads in crime level (1.1 vs 20.2). Costa Mesa leads in walk score (65 vs 35). Darien leads in cost of living index (122 vs 197).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Darien, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 60.6 (#1929) | 75.1 (#500) |
| Population | 108,354 | 21,698 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,424,322 | $463,450 |
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $110,546 |
| Average Commute | 21.9 min | 29.7 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 35 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 1.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 197 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+13.3 |
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 →
C
75.1 Score
Darien, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$463,450
Population
21,698
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
35
Midwest
View Darien, IL →
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