2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Costa Mesa, CA vs Portland, OR

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Portland, is 19% less than it is in Costa Mesa and is 12% above the National Average.
- Costa Mesa unemployment rate is 5.5%.
- Portland unemployment rate is 6.9%.
 Costa Mesa, CAPortland, ORUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock0.9%1.6%
 Future Job Growth32.4%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock9.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$47,636  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$78,476$69,021
 Family Median Income$106,842  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Costa Mesa, CAPortland, ORUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock9.8%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.7%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock6.4%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K5.6%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock6.5%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K5.0%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock9.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K15.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock17.5%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K10.8%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock12.3%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Costa Mesa, CAPortland, ORUnited States
 Management, business, finance22.1%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock9.4%6.5%
 Community, social services1.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock2.1%1.2%
 Education, library4.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.9%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology3.6%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.3%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.2%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.0%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.1%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.7%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support22.6%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.3%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair6.2%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock9.7%13.1%
Reviews for Costa Mesa    8 Reviews

Over 15 years ago

Costa mesa has awesome shopping but is way too crowded and I have had 3 cars stolen in the past 5 years along with countless break-ins and theft. Expensive. Close to  More

   |    Reply

Over 16 years ago

Costa Mesa has a near perfect climate . . . plenty of sun but rarely over 100 degrees (our house doesn't even have AC). Nestled between Newport Beach and Huntington  More

   |    Reply

We have a good amount of low-income, medium-income, and relatively high-income  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Costa Mesa

Reviews for Portland    386 Reviews

I lived in Portland for 19 years (I've also lived in Boise, ID, the Bay Area, Austin, TX and now Nampa, ID). It drives me nuts when people try to give a large city a  More

   |    Reply

One of the best cities in America. Food scene is the best in the world. Weather is preferable over places where you have the same weather year round. I enjoy the  More

   |    Reply

I moved from Houston to Portland about a year ago. I remember reading the reviews on here and it making me second guess moving before I did, so I wanted to come back and  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Portland


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.