Costa Mesa, CA vs San Bernardino, 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
San Bernardino
62.2
#1869 nationally
Costa Mesa leads in median household income ($104,981 vs $61,323). San Bernardino leads in cost of living index (124 vs 197). Costa Mesa leads in walk score (65 vs 45).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 60.6 (#1929) | 62.2 (#1869) |
| Population | 108,354 | 223,728 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,424,322 | $495,055 |
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $61,323 |
| Average Commute | 21.9 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 45 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 24.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 197 | 124 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+2.1 |
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-
62.2 Score
San Bernardino, CA
Growing California city with expanding opportunities
Median Home
$495,055
Population
223,728
Crime
High
Walk Score
45
Pacific
View San Bernardino, CA →
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