United States › California › Costa Mesa CITY · 2010 ACS
Costa Mesa California · 109,960 residents · 15.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Costa Mesa is home to 109,960 people in California. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $644,900. Owners hold 40% of the housing stock. 27% of locals were born outside the United States. Renters pay $1,422 a month at the median. The median age is 33.6, younger than the US median of 37.2.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 33.6
US median: 37.2
More educated
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 93%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 32.0 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
95K 100K 105K 110K 115K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Costa Mesa Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $64,864
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,732 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $23,342 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Public administration 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing 4.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.4%
Education & health services 0.2%
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$644,900
+93%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $263,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$1,422
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $956 in 2000
US average: $853
from 40.5% in 2000
60.4% rent
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.67 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 40.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 10.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 56.8%(61,778)
Hispanic / Latino 31.8%(34,523)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 51.8%(56,993)
Hispanic / Latino 35.8%(39,403)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data from 29.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 79.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 73.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 38.6%(17,477)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 21.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 16.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 66.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.5%(554)
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Costa Mesa Head to head
Compare Costa Mesa to nearby cities COSTA MESA VS
Fountain Valley
Income $115,237 +78%
Home value $1,072,300 +66%
Population 55,508 −49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COSTA MESA VS
Newport Beach
Income $156,867 +142%
Home value $2,000,001 +210%
Population 81,977 −25%
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COSTA MESA VS
Santa Ana
Income $93,999 +45%
Home value $713,000 +11%
Population 315,586 +190%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COSTA MESA VS
Huntington Beach
Income $120,919 +86%
Home value $1,100,000 +71%
Population 191,451 +76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Costa Mesa, California? Costa Mesa, California has about 109,960 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Costa Mesa, California? The typical household in Costa Mesa, California earns about $64,864 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 $644,900, and the typical rent is about $1,422 a month.
How educated are people in Costa Mesa, California? About 33.9% 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 13.3% 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 13,603 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.
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