Costa Mesa, CA vs Long Beach, 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.
Costa Mesa
60.6
#1929 nationally
Long Beach
62.3
#1863 nationally
Costa Mesa leads in median household income ($104,981 vs $69,471). Long Beach leads in cost of living index (142 vs 197). Costa Mesa leads in average commute (21.9 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 60.6 (#1929) | 62.3 (#1863) |
| Population | 108,354 | 466,742 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,424,322 | $860,012 |
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $69,471 |
| Average Commute | 21.9 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 67 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 197 | 142 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+32.9 |
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 →
D-
62.3 Score
Long Beach, CA
Aquatic playground of Southern California
Median Home
$860,012
Population
466,742
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Long Beach, CA →
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