2025 Compare Cities Education:
Costa Mesa, CA vs Surprise, AZ

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Highlights
- Surprise spends 30.9% less per student than Costa Mesa.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 21.4% lower in Surprise than in Costa Mesa. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Surprise had 6.8% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Costa Mesa
 Costa Mesa, CASurprise, AZUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$10,564$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,911  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$4,810$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio23.21  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock23484573
 Students per Counselor595  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock1.7%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.3%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock93.5%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.4%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock10.8%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.42.2%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock8.5%9.3%
 Professional Degree2.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%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

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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

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

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Reviews for Surprise    52 Reviews

I have lived in Surprise, Az. For the past 21 years. One of the best cities to live in Az. From the police department to maintaining the streets & freeways. One thing I  More

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I am an Arizona native - 55 years - and have lived in Surprise since 2003. I wouldn't live anywhere else! I have watched this place grow and prosper. It is very family  More

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Over 11 years ago

The city of surprise is a beautiful place. It would not be a good place to live however. They have a young eager police force. You are taking a BIG risk driving  More

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