2025 Compare Cities Education:
Costa Mesa, CA vs San Rafael, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- San Rafael spends 38.2% more per student than Costa Mesa.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 14.5% lower in San Rafael than in Costa Mesa. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- San Rafael had 1.3% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Costa Mesa
 Costa Mesa, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$21,111$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,911  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$9,450$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio23.21  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock41414573
 Students per Counselor595  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock9.4%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.3%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock86.4%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.4%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock6.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.42.2%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock13.0%9.3%
 Professional Degree2.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock2.9%1.5%
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 San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

   |    Reply

Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of San Rafael


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.