2025 Compare Cities Education:
Petaluma, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA

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Highlights
- Costa Mesa spends 9.3% less per student than Petaluma.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 11.5% higher in Costa Mesa than in Petaluma. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Costa Mesa had 3.3% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Petaluma
 Petaluma, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$15,277$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,921  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,037$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio20.82  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock163834573
 Students per Counselor399  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.1%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.4.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.6%88.9%
 Some College Educ.24.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.4%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.40.3%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock8.9%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.4%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.1%1.5%
Reviews for Petaluma    16 Reviews

I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians  More

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We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases  More

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I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with  More

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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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