CensusEasy
CITY

Costa Mesa

California · 108,881 residents (2025 est.) · 15.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Los Angeles metro area
The short version

Costa Mesa is a city of 110,330 people in California. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $1,115,100. Owners hold 40% of the housing stock. Few US cities rank higher on income. Density works out to 6,980 people per square mile. Renters pay $2,446 a month at the median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 132%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
110,330
+1%since 2000
from 108,724 in 2000
108,881 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,980 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 6,883 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
36.7
+15%since 2000
from 32.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
15.8 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
95K100K105K110K115K19902000201020202024Costa Mesa
2024110K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(5,849)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.3%(4,769)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.4%(6,000)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.1%(6,723)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.4%(7,078)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3419.2%(21,177)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4415.3%(16,906)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.4%(13,634)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.3%(13,617)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(8,829)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.4%(3,755)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(1,993)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$111,505
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,732 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$59,742
+156%since 2000
from $23,342 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
67.9%
+26.9 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.1%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.456
+2%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade8.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,115,100
+132%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $263,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,446
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $956 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
39.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 40.5% in 2000
60.4% rent
Vacancy rate
4.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.56 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.67 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
28.6%
−12.1 ptssince 2009
from 40.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
10.0
−5%since 2009
from 10.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
70
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.8%(61,778)
Black1.2%(1,313)
Hispanic / Latino31.8%(34,523)
Asian6.8%(7,421)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic47.5%(52,376)
Black1.7%(1,915)
Hispanic / Latino36.6%(40,414)
Asian8.1%(8,954)
Other6%(6,671)
Diversity Score
79
+7%since 2009
from 74 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican28.2%(31,078)
Central American4.6%(5,031)
Salvadoran2.7%(3,019)
Guatemalan1.4%(1,568)
South American1.4%(1,523)
Colombian0.6%(612)
Spaniard0.5%(520)
Argentine0.3%(373)
Honduran0.3%(356)
Puerto Rican0.3%(353)
Cuban0.2%(257)
Ecuadorian0.2%(200)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0.2%(198)
Dominican0.2%(166)
Bolivian0%(34)
Chilean0%(34)
Asian origin
Vietnamese2.5%(2,739)
Filipino1.7%(1,891)
Chinese1.1%(1,195)
Japanese0.9%(966)
Asian Indian0.8%(837)
Korean0.4%(453)
Cambodian0.2%(175)
Hmong0.1%(110)
Taiwanese0.1%(92)
Thai0%(43)
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data
Kazakh0%(32)
Pakistani0%(21)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.3%(351)
Chamorro0.1%(68)
Tongan0%(41)
Guamanian0%(38)
Fijian0%(18)
Ancestry
German9.8%(10,785)
English9.4%(10,403)
Irish8.7%(9,600)
Italian5.4%(6,012)
American3.4%(3,780)
Scottish2.4%(2,602)
French1.7%(1,928)
Polish1.7%(1,916)
Swedish1.1%(1,221)
Dutch1%(1,086)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(1,035)
Norwegian0.8%(879)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.8%(876)
Russian0.8%(843)
Portuguese0.6%(657)
Welsh0.6%(617)
Greek0.5%(502)
Ukrainian0.4%(481)
Swiss0.4%(426)
Danish0.4%(407)
British0.4%(398)
Romanian0.3%(333)
Croatian0.3%(325)
Hungarian0.3%(318)
Iranian0.3%(305)
Czech0.3%(302)
Lebanese0.2%(275)
Brazilian0.2%(262)
Armenian0.2%(252)
Egyptian0.2%(249)
Canadian0.2%(223)
Syrian0.2%(198)
Austrian0.2%(185)
Lithuanian0.2%(183)
Finnish0.1%(158)
Slovak0.1%(134)
Jordanian0.1%(107)
Turkish0.1%(101)
Belgian0.1%(97)
West Indian0.1%(59)
Bulgarian0%(41)
Slovene0%(31)
Nigerian0%(28)
Serbian0%(27)
Ghanaian0%(23)
Jamaican0%(17)
Haitian0%(14)
Israeli0%(12)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
45.0%
+15.9 ptssince 2000
from 29.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.1%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.4 min
+46%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.4%
−11.3 ptssince 2009
from 73.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
22.2%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
73.6%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 73.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
79.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 76.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
8.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.3%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
48.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
22.3%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2012
from 7.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.5%
−12.4 ptssince 2013
from 21.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.8%
+8.4 ptssince 2017
from 87.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 95.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
85.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 85.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
63.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 61.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
27.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 29.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married47%(22,758)
Married42.8%(20,729)
Widowed1.6%(759)
Divorced8.6%(4,143)
Women 15+
Never married38.6%(17,477)
Married44.4%(20,107)
Widowed5.6%(2,517)
Divorced11.5%(5,222)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.5%
−12.4 ptssince 2013
from 21.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
54.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2020
from 16.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
13.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 12.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
20.6%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
66.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 66.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
31.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2020
from 28.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)30.4%(963)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.5%(554)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era23.7%(749)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War9.9%(313)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.4%(12)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 3,166 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Costa Mesa

Boca Raton
Pop 101,582
Sandy Springs
Pop 105,013
Riverview
Pop 113,697
Alafaya
Pop 92,449
Places similar to Costa Mesa
Head to head

Compare Costa Mesa to nearby cities

COSTA MESA VS
Fountain Valley
Income$115,237+3%
Home value$1,072,300−4%
Population55,508−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COSTA MESA VS
Newport Beach
Income$156,867+41%
Home value$2,000,001+79%
Population81,977−25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COSTA MESA VS
Santa Ana
Income$93,999−16%
Home value$713,000−36%
Population315,586+190%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COSTA MESA VS
Huntington Beach
Income$120,919+8%
Home value$1,100,000−1%
Population191,451+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Costa Mesa, California?

Costa Mesa, California has about 110,330 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Costa Mesa, California?

The typical household in Costa Mesa, California earns about $111,505 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Costa Mesa, California expensive?

In Costa Mesa, California, the median home is worth about $1,115,100, and the typical rent is about $2,446 a month.

How educated are people in Costa Mesa, California?

About 45.0% of adults age 25 and over in Costa Mesa, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Costa Mesa, California?

About 9.1% of people in Costa Mesa, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Costa Mesa, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Costa Mesa, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,973 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
California

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →