Costa Mesa, CA vs Foster City, 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
Foster City
63.9
#1730 nationally
Foster City leads in crime level (1.9 vs 20.2). Foster City leads in median household income ($191,267 vs $104,981). Costa Mesa leads in average commute (21.9 min vs 32.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Foster City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 60.6 (#1929) | 63.9 (#1730) |
| Population | 108,354 | 32,180 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,424,322 | $1,863,228 |
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $191,267 |
| Average Commute | 21.9 min | 32.4 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 50 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 1.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 197 | 276 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+50.3 |
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
63.9 Score
Foster City, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,863,228
Population
32,180
Crime
Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Foster City, CA →
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