Costa Mesa, CA vs Houston, TX
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
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 197). Costa Mesa leads in median household income ($104,981 vs $57,791). Costa Mesa leads in walk score (65 vs 48).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 60.6 (#1929) | 72.1 (#926) |
| Population | 108,354 | 2,314,157 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,424,322 | $263,563 |
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $57,791 |
| Average Commute | 21.9 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 48 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 197 | 96 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+5.5 |
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-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
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