What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Costa Mesa, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California, with an estimated population of 109,131. It anchors the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. The population has contracted 0.6% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Costa Mesa is $1,416,645 as of 2026-04, up 3.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Costa Mesa average $3,041 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.7%). The composite momentum score is 70 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
Quiet strength: prices near or at all-time highs (+0.0% from 5-year peak). Solid market for owner-occupiers; investors should underwrite conservatively given the elevated entry point.
Reasons people move here
- Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.3% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
- Quiet strength: +3.6% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
- Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
Things to know first
- Flat or shrinking population: -0.6% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
- Premium territory: $1,416,645 median home is a high bar to clear — affordability constrains the buyer pool.
More about Costa Mesa
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.