Economy, jobs and prices in Costa Mesa, California: official figures
The median household income in Costa Mesa was $111,505 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 152nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.
What is the per capita income in Costa Mesa?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Costa Mesa averaged $59,742 a year in 2020-2024, 117th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Costa Mesa?
Costa Mesa's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.456 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 335th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Costa Mesa, California?
4.7% of the civilian labor force in Costa Mesa was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,228 people), 314th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Costa Mesa have jobs?
64,932 residents of Costa Mesa held civilian jobs, 70.1% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 71 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Costa Mesa?
The largest industry group for working residents of Costa Mesa was professional, scientific, management and administrative services (18.6% of employed residents), followed by education, health care and social assistance (17.1%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (11.5%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Costa Mesa work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 8.5% of working residents of Costa Mesa, 374th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 18.6% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Costa Mesa, California?
Commuters in Costa Mesa took 22.4 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 272nd shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.6% travelled an hour or more and 28.3% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Costa Mesa get to work?
22.2% of workers living in Costa Mesa worked from home in 2020-2024, 155th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 62.4% drove to work alone, 8.2% carpooled, 1.6% used public transport and 2.1% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Costa Mesa, California?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Costa Mesa was $2,446 a month in 2020-2024, 55th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Costa Mesa?
Owner-occupied homes in Costa Mesa had a median value of $1,115,100 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 36th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Costa Mesa?
The median home value in Costa Mesa was 10.0 times the median household income, 23rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Costa Mesa have no internet?
2.6% of households in Costa Mesa (1,083) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 146th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.0% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Costa Mesa compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 152 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 149 | Commerce City | $111,972 |
| 150 | Rancho Cucamonga | $111,895 |
| 151 | Stamford | $111,586 |
| 152 | Costa Mesa | $111,505 |
| 153 | Grapevine | $111,376 |
| 154 | Milford | $111,201 |
| 155 | Vacaville | $111,126 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 117 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Plano | $59,916 |
| 115 | Charleston | $59,875 |
| 116 | Weston | $59,866 |
| 117 | Costa Mesa | $59,742 |
| 118 | Arvada | $59,662 |
| 119 | Fort Lauderdale | $59,629 |
| 120 | Greenville | $58,929 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 335 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 332 | Camarillo | 0.456 |
| 333 | Chicopee | 0.456 |
| 334 | Cathedral City | 0.456 |
| 335 | Costa Mesa | 0.456 |
| 336 | Anderson | 0.456 |
| 337 | Alexandria | 0.456 |
| 338 | Evansville | 0.456 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 510 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 507 | Bloomington | 4.8% |
| 508 | Largo | 4.8% |
| 509 | Wellington | 4.7% |
| 510 | Costa Mesa | 4.7% |
| 511 | Salinas | 4.7% |
| 512 | Port Orange | 4.7% |
| 513 | Tigard | 4.7% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 34 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Thornton | 74.0% |
| 32 | Logan | 73.9% |
| 33 | Huntersville | 73.8% |
| 34 | Costa Mesa | 73.6% |
| 35 | Mountain View | 73.6% |
| 36 | Plainfield | 73.5% |
| 37 | Carrollton | 73.5% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 552 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 549 | Meridian | 22.4 |
| 550 | Kansas City | 22.4 |
| 551 | Odessa | 22.4 |
| 552 | Costa Mesa | 22.4 |
| 553 | Santa Maria | 22.4 |
| 554 | Fresno | 22.4 |
| 555 | Cincinnati | 22.4 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 155 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 152 | Bloomington | 22.3% |
| 153 | Longmont | 22.3% |
| 154 | Maricopa | 22.2% |
| 155 | Costa Mesa | 22.2% |
| 156 | Santa Cruz | 22.2% |
| 157 | Eagle Mountain | 22.1% |
| 158 | White Plains | 22.1% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 320 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 317 | Kentwood | 1.6% |
| 318 | Thornton | 1.6% |
| 319 | Modesto | 1.6% |
| 320 | Costa Mesa | 1.6% |
| 321 | Portsmouth | 1.6% |
| 322 | South Jordan | 1.6% |
| 323 | Plainfield | 1.6% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 450 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 447 | Orem | 8.5% |
| 448 | Lenexa | 8.5% |
| 449 | Johns Creek | 8.5% |
| 450 | Costa Mesa | 8.5% |
| 451 | Meridian | 8.5% |
| 452 | Lewisville | 8.5% |
| 453 | Alhambra | 8.5% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 796 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 793 | Jurupa Valley | 17.2% |
| 794 | Leander | 17.2% |
| 795 | Cupertino | 17.2% |
| 796 | Costa Mesa | 17.1% |
| 797 | Frisco | 17.1% |
| 798 | Miami | 17.1% |
| 799 | Las Vegas | 17.0% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 55 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | San Clemente | $2,460 |
| 53 | Santa Cruz | $2,452 |
| 54 | Tustin | $2,449 |
| 55 | Costa Mesa | $2,446 |
| 56 | Petaluma | $2,440 |
| 57 | Palm Beach Gardens | $2,417 |
| 58 | Santa Barbara | $2,413 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 36 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Redmond | $1,167,800 |
| 34 | Yorba Linda | $1,147,100 |
| 35 | Kirkland | $1,115,400 |
| 36 | Costa Mesa | $1,115,100 |
| 37 | Daly City | $1,115,000 |
| 38 | Livermore | $1,105,600 |
| 39 | Union City | $1,104,900 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 22 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Mountain View | 10.1x |
| 20 | El Cajon | 10.1x |
| 21 | Westminster | 10.0x |
| 22 | Costa Mesa | 10.0x |
| 23 | San Clemente | 10.0x |
| 24 | San Francisco | 9.9x |
| 25 | Urban Honolulu | 9.7x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 771 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 768 | Santa Barbara | 39.9% |
| 769 | Cincinnati | 39.8% |
| 770 | Euless | 39.8% |
| 771 | Costa Mesa | 39.6% |
| 772 | Orlando | 39.5% |
| 773 | Harrisonburg | 39.5% |
| 774 | Provo | 39.4% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 124 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | Irvine | 95.8% |
| 122 | Overland Park | 95.8% |
| 123 | Tigard | 95.8% |
| 124 | Costa Mesa | 95.8% |
| 125 | Shawnee | 95.8% |
| 126 | Hoffman Estates | 95.8% |
| 127 | Lee's Summit | 95.8% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Costa Mesa ranks 678 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 675 | Murrieta | 2.6% |
| 676 | North Richland Hills | 2.6% |
| 677 | Mountain View | 2.6% |
| 678 | Costa Mesa | 2.6% |
| 679 | Lee's Summit | 2.6% |
| 680 | Antioch | 2.6% |
| 681 | Scottsdale | 2.5% |
More on Costa Mesa: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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