Costa Mesa, CA

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Population

112,930

0.437% growth

Median Age

34.5


Median Household Income

$75,109

6.63% growth

Poverty Rate

13.8%


Number of Employees

63,205

1.11% growth

Median Property Value

$671,800

5.43% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Costa Mesa, CA had a population of 113k people with a median age of 34.5 and a median household income of $75,109. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Costa Mesa, CA grew from 112,439 to 112,930, a 0.437% increase and its median household income grew from $70,438 to $75,109, a 6.63% increase.

The population of Costa Mesa, CA is 49.4% White Alone, 36.5% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.55% Asian Alone. N/A% of the people in Costa Mesa, CA speak a non-English language, and 85.6% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Costa Mesa, CA are Orange Coast College (4,354 degrees awarded in 2017), University of Phoenix-California (4,303 degrees), and Vanguard University of Southern California (527 degrees).

The median property value in Costa Mesa, CA is $671,800, and the homeownership rate is 39.1%. Most people in Costa Mesa, CA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 21.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Costa Mesa, CA is 2 cars per household.

Photo by John Sonderman

United StatesCaliforniaOrange County, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAIrvine City (Central) PUMA, CAHuntington Beach City PUMA, CACosta Mesa & Fountain Valley Cities PUMA, CASanta Ana City (West) PUMA, CANewport Beach, Aliso Viejo & Laguna Hills Cities PUMA, CA

Economy

The economy of Costa Mesa, CA employs 63.2k people. The largest industries in Costa Mesa, CA are Retail Trade (6,904 people), Accommodation & Food Services (6,759 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (6,496 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($133,077), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($112,262), and Utilities ($103,327).

Median household income in Costa Mesa, CA is $75,109. Males in Costa Mesa, CA have an average income that is 1.26 times higher than the average income of females, which is $57,252. The income inequality in Costa Mesa, CA (measured using the Gini index) is 0.5, which is higher than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$75,109

2017 value

± $2,456

6.63%

1 Year Growth

± 4.85%

Households in Costa Mesa, CA have a median annual income of $75,109, which is more than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $70,438 in 2016, which represents a 6.63% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Costa Mesa, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

$72,235

Average Male Salary

± $699

$57,252

Average Female Salary

± $582

In 2017, full-time male employees in California made 1.26 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in California by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $65,946 ± $1,081

  2. White

    $59,925 ± $556

  3. Two or More Races

    $49,289 ± $1,826

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of California workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.1 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in California by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Costa Mesa, CA is from California.

0.5

2017 Wage GINI

0.5

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in California was 0.5 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.16% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2017 the GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 633.02

  2. Census Tract 638.06

  3. Census Tract 631.03

In 2017, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Costa Mesa, CA was Census Tract 633.02 with a value of $105,152, followed by Census Tract 638.06 and Census Tract 631.03, with respective values of $104,516 and $102,813.

The following map shows all of the places in Costa Mesa, CA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Males 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

13.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Costa Mesa, CA (15.4k out of 112k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 25 - 34, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 35 - 44.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    9,436 ± 772

  2. Hispanic

    8,551 ± 740

  3. Other

    4,282 ± 538

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Costa Mesa, CA is White, followed by Hispanic and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

63.2k

2017 Value

± 1,827

1.11%

1 Year growth

± 4.07%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Costa Mesa, CA grew at a rate of 1.11%, from 62.5k employees to 63.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Costa Mesa, CA, are Sales & Related Occupations (7,897 people), Management Occupations (7,767 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,899 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Costa Mesa, CA.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Costa Mesa, CA, by number of employees, are Sales & Related Occupations (7,897 people), Management Occupations (7,767 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,899 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Costa Mesa, CA has an unusually high number of residents working as Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media Occupations (1.82 times higher than expected), Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occupations (1.68 times), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1.42 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Costa Mesa, CA, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($92,143), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($83,737), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($83,713).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

63.2k

2017 Value

± 1,827

1.11%

1 Year growth

± 4.07%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Costa Mesa, CA grew at a rate of 1.11%, from 62.5k employees to 63.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Costa Mesa, CA, are Retail Trade (6,904 people), Accommodation & Food Services (6,759 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (6,496 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Costa Mesa, CA, though some of these residents may live in Costa Mesa, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Costa Mesa, CA, by number of employees, are Retail Trade (6,904 people), Accommodation & Food Services (6,759 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (6,496 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Costa Mesa, CA has an unusually high number of Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (1.84 times higher than expected), Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services (1.75 times), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (1.54 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Costa Mesa, CA, by median earnings, are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($133,077), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($112,262), and Utilities ($103,327).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Electronics

    $232B

  2. Mixed freight

    $172B

  3. Gasoline

    $136B

In 2015, the top outbound California product (by dollars) was Electronics with $232B, followed by Mixed freight ($172B) and Gasoline ($136B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound California products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for California state.

$1.7T

2020 Value

$2.48T

Projected 2045 Value

46.3% growth

In 2020, total outbound California trade was $1.7T. This is expected to increase 46.3% to $2.48T by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound California trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. Texas

    $71.8B

  2. Arizona

    $46.9B

  3. Washington

    $34B

In 2015, the top outbound California domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Texas with $71.8B, followed by Arizona with $46.9B and Washington and $34B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that California shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

85.7% of the population of Costa Mesa, CA has health coverage, with 46.4% on employee plans, 16.4% on Medicaid, 7.86% on Medicare, 14.3% on non-group plans, and 0.735% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the place of Costa Mesa, CA was $7,549 in 2014. This is a 4.04% increase from the previous year ($7,256).

Primary care physicians in Costa Mesa, CA see 1281 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1281 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1214 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 324 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Tehama County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (10.6%). Additionally, Tulare County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (33.4%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

1,281 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in California see an average of 1,281 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,281 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in California in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

$7,549

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,735

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,368

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$11,833

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in California (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4.04%, from $7,256 to $7,549.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

14.3%

Uninsured

46.4%

Employer Coverage

16.4%

Medicaid

7.86%

Medicare

14.3%

Non-Group

0.735%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Costa Mesa, CA declined by 12.5% from 16.4% to 14.3%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Costa Mesa, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Tehama County

    10.6% prevalence

  2. San Joaquin County

    10.5% prevalence

  3. Alpine County

    10.3% prevalence

Tehama County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in California, at 10.6%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in California by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Costa Mesa, CA is home to a population of 113k people, from which 85.6% are citizens. As of 2017, 24.8% of Costa Mesa, CA residents were born outside of the country (28k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Costa Mesa, CA is composed of 55.8k White Alone residents (49.4%), 41.2k Hispanic or Latino residents (36.5%), 9.66k Asian Alone residents (8.55%), 2.98k Two or More Races residents (2.64%), 1.79k Black or African American Alone residents (1.59%), 953 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.844%), 371 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.329%), and 208 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.184%).

Age

Age by Nativity

31

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.5

43

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1.3

In 2017, the median age of all people in Costa Mesa, CA was 34.5. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 31, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 43. But people in Costa Mesa, CA are getting staying the same age. In 2016, the average age of all Costa Mesa, CA residents was 35.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

24.8%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

28k people

25.2%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

28.3k people

As of 2017, 24.8% of Costa Mesa, CA residents (28k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Costa Mesa, CA was 25.2%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Costa Mesa, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    4,212,695 ± 47,591 people

  2. Philippines

    836,199 ± 22,209 people

  3. China

    612,429 ± 19,062 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 4,212,695 California residents, followed by Philippines with 836,199 and China with 612,429.

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Citizenship

85.6%

2017 Citizenship

85%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 85.6% of Costa Mesa, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Costa Mesa, CA was 85%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Costa Mesa, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    55.8k ± 1.54k

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    41.2k ± 2.11k

  3. Asian Alone

    9.66k ± 945

In 2017, there were 1.35 times more White Alone residents (55.8k people) in Costa Mesa, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 41.2k Hispanic or Latino and 9.66k Asian Alone residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Costa Mesa, CA as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    1,344 ± 205

  2. Gulf War (2001-)

    1,088 ± 277

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    394 ± 174

Costa Mesa, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.24 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2017, universities in Costa Mesa, CA awarded 9,469 degrees. The student population of Costa Mesa, CA is skewed towards men, with 18,057 male students and 16,703 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Costa Mesa, CA are White (2,750 and 30.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (2,678 and 29.7%), Asian (1,438 and 16%), and Unknown (1,049 and 11.6%).

The largest universities in Costa Mesa, CA by number of degrees awarded are Orange Coast College (4,354 and 46%), University of Phoenix-California (4,303 and 45.4%), and Vanguard University of Southern California (527 and 5.57%).

The most popular majors in Costa Mesa, CA are General Business Administration & Management (2,184 and 23.1%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,979 and 20.9%), and Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (458 and 4.84%).

The median tuition costs in Costa Mesa, CA are $31,980 for private four year colleges, and $N/A and $N/A respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Human Services

    318 degrees awarded

  2. General Business Administration & Management

    1,240 degrees awarded

  3. Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration

    448 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Costa Mesa, CA was General Human Services with 318 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Costa Mesa, CA according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. Orange Coast College

    4,354 degrees awarded

  2. University of Phoenix-California

    4,303 degrees awarded

  3. Vanguard University of Southern California

    527 degrees awarded

$N/A

Median In-State Public

$31,980

Median Private

In 2017, the Costa Mesa, CA institution with the largest number of graduating students was Orange Coast College with 4,354 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

4,479

Degrees Awarded to Men

4,990

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 4,479 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Costa Mesa, CA, which is 0.898 times less than the 4,990 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Costa Mesa, CA by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    2,750 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    2,678 degrees awarded

  3. Asian

    1,438 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Costa Mesa, CA were to White students. These 2,750 degrees mean that there were 1.03 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 2,678 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Costa Mesa, CA was $671,800 in 2017, which is 2.92 times larger than the national average of $229,700. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $637,200 to $671,800, a 5.43% increase. The homeownership rate in Costa Mesa, CA is 39.1%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Costa Mesa, CA have an average commute time of 21.2 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Costa Mesa, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$671,800

2017 Median

± $9,977

$637,200

2016 Median

± $7,590

In 2017, the median property value in Costa Mesa, CA grew to to $671,800 from the previous year's value of $637,200.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Costa Mesa, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Costa Mesa, CA the largest share of households have a property value in the $500k - $750k range.

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$75,109

Median Household Income

± $2,456

40.6k

Number of Households

± 1,372

In 2017, the median household income of the 40.6k households in Costa Mesa, CA grew to $75,109 from the previous year's value of $70,438.

The following chart displays the households in Costa Mesa, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Costa Mesa, CA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Costa Mesa, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

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Rent vs Own

39.1%

2017 Homeownership

38.5%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 39.1% of the housing units in Costa Mesa, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 38.5%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Costa Mesa, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

21.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Costa Mesa, CA have a shorter commute time (21.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 2% of the workforce in Costa Mesa, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Costa Mesa, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    77.4%

  2. Carpooled

    8.87%

  3. Worked At Home

    5.66%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Costa Mesa, CA was Drove Alone (77.4%), followed by those who Carpooled (8.87%) and those who Worked At Home (5.66%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Costa Mesa, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Costa Mesa, CA have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

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