Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 18% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
14%
Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, CA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,528
Population
110,265
Renter Mix
62% Rent
Laid-back living at the heart of Orange County
Arts
•
Suburb
•
Commuter
•
Beach
•
Costa Mesa combines suburban comfort with metropolitan amenities in the heart of Orange County. As the "City of the Arts," Costa Mesa provides residents with housing options ranging from single-family homes to apartment communities. The rental market remains competitive, with current average rents ranging from $2,103 for studios to $3,770 for four-bedroom units, reflecting a moderate annual increase of 2.8-4.3% across different unit sizes. The South Coast Metro area, surrounding South Coast Plaza, and the Mesa Verde neighborhood offer distinctive residential environments with easy access to parks and shopping.
Costa Mesa's cultural scene and outdoor spaces define daily life here. The Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory Theater anchor the city's performing arts district. South Coast Plaza serves as a premier shopping destination and community focal point. The city features 26 parks and recreation facilities, while the annual Orange County Fair draws crowds each summer. Orange Coast College and Vanguard University contribute to the area's educational landscape. Located just one mile from the Pacific Ocean, Costa Mesa residents enjoy convenient beach access and a Mediterranean climate perfect for year-round outdoor activities.
Explore the City
Demographics
Median Household Income
$100,065
Average: $126,604
Education
41,349
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
63,748
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Costa Mesa has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
62%
Non-Renters
38%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
30%
Other Education
70%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $2,109 for a studio, $2,528 for one bedroom, $3,008 for two bedrooms, and $3,334 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Costa Mesa has increased by 0.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,528/month
695 Sq Ft
House
$9,839/month
1,859 Sq Ft
Condo
$4,794/month
1,163 Sq Ft
Townhome
$4,376/month
1,097 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Costa Mesa, CA is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
70
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
373 Students
Public
Grades K-5
570 Students
Public
Grades K-5
344 Students
Public
Grades K-5
321 Students
Public
Grades K-5
539 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
501 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,730 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
976 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,730 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
- Talbert Regional Park
- Environmental Nature Center
- Castaways Park
- UCI Arboretum
Commuter Rail
Airports
- John Wayne/Orange County
- Long Beach (Daugherty Field)
Top Apartments in Costa Mesa
Houses for Rent in Costa Mesa
Property Management Companies in Costa Mesa, CA
Advanced Real Estate
-
66
Communities
-
12,194
Units
-
29
Cities
6 Communities in Costa Mesa
UDR
-
167
Communities
-
58,082
Units
-
85
Cities
5 Communities in Costa Mesa
Beach Front Property Management, Inc.
-
131
Communities
-
3,998
Units
-
33
Cities
4 Communities in Costa Mesa
Jamboree Management
-
32
Communities
-
4,280
Units
-
22
Cities
4 Communities in Costa Mesa
The REMM Group
-
43
Communities
-
5,020
Units
-
31
Cities
3 Communities in Costa Mesa
Dunbar Real Estate Investment Management
-
15
Communities
-
435
Units
-
10
Cities
3 Communities in Costa Mesa
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.