2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Princeton, NJ vs Costa Mesa, CA

#1 Best and Worst Airports to make a Connection List

#2 Best Airports to Make a Connection

#4 Most Competitive Private Colleges

#6 Sleep in the City Study

#6 Most Competitive Public Colleges

#35 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#74 Best Green Cities

#169 2005 Best Places to Live

#2 Most Comfortable Summer Cities

#2 Top 10 Cities to Beat the Heat

#43 Best Cities for Board Gamers

#47 Gloomiest Places in America

#50 America's Top Hygge Cities

Many cities have colleges in them, but Princeton's character and quality of life are very deeply influenced by having such an outstanding school contributing to all  More

police are very quick to respond and resolve crime problems. very safe place to live. when you feel safe, all other issues are  More

You'll never lose on a real estate investment in Princeton. It has that cache that people always desire. McCarter Theatre, University concerts, fine dining, great  More

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

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

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