Costa Mesa, California Income Statistics
Costa Mesa Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Costa Mesa Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Costa Mesa | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $113,143 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $74,738 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 21.8% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 23.9% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Costa Mesa is about 14% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in Costa Mesa (5.8%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 22% of adults in Costa Mesa earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Costa Mesa, California grew by 78.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $113,143 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Costa Mesa
| Metric | Costa Mesa | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $85,313 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $75,941 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.0% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Costa Mesa, it is 0.530, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 12% more than women's income in Costa Mesa, California. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $328,020 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Costa Mesa, California has widened from about 4% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 1% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,389 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Costa Mesa widened by 6.7 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Costa Mesa | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.5% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 3,345 people are unemployed in Costa Mesa, California.
The average commute time in Costa Mesa is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Costa Mesa, California has fallen from 7.8% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2019.
Costa Mesa, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Costa Mesa, CA is the 3rd largest of the 5 cities compared here, 112,438 residents against a local median of 134,076. Costa Mesa, CA's income growth, at 5.8%/yr, runs 34% above the 4.4%/yr typical of the cities around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread 3.4%/yr on income growth, so Costa Mesa, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Costa Mesa, CA has the 2nd highest income growth of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa, CA | 112,438 | $113,143 #4/5 | 5.8%/yr #2/5 | 4.8% #2/5 | 0.530 #3/5 |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,730 | $114,740 | 4.3%/yr | 5.8% | 0.567 |
| Newport Beach, CA | 82,228 | $155,599 | 3.6%/yr | 4.5% | 0.495 |
| Santa Ana, CA | 313,932 | $93,782 | 7.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.568 |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 185,924 | $121,049 | 4.4%/yr | 5.4% | 0.528 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Costa Mesa, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than California, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Costa Mesa, California.
How Rich Is Costa Mesa, California?
Costa Mesa has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $113,143, about 14% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Costa Mesa, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Costa Mesa, California rose 79%, from $63,262 to $113,143. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +79% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Costa Mesa in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Costa Mesa, California was $111,623, up 5% from $105,952 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Costa Mesa in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Costa Mesa, California was $91,405. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $113,143.
Is unemployment high in Costa Mesa, California?
Unemployment in Costa Mesa, California is only 4.8%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Costa Mesa, California?
The Gini coefficient in Costa Mesa is 0.530. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Costa Mesa, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Costa Mesa, California has widened from about 4% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 1% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,389 since 2009.
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