2025 Compare Cities Economy:
San Jose, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Costa Mesa, is 23% less than it is in San Jose and is 28% above the National Average.
- San Jose unemployment rate is 5.6%.
- Costa Mesa unemployment rate is 5.5%.
 San Jose, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.5%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock0.6%1.6%
 Future Job Growth38.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$53,574  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$96,391$69,021
 Family Median Income$138,908  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 San Jose, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock5.4%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.1%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock5.0%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K4.3%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock5.5%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K4.4%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.5%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K9.9%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock21.5%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K13.2%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock15.9%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 San Jose, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance18.5%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock6.1%6.5%
 Community, social services1.1%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.7%1.2%
 Education, library5.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.5%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.0%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.6%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock8.0%5.4%
 Building maintenance3.7%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.2%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support17.3%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.5%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair6.6%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock7.4%13.1%
Reviews for San Jose    90 Reviews

I've lived in west San Jose/Cambrian, between Los Gatos and Almaden SJ since 1997. This side of town somehow avoided the erosion of the American dream. Houses are  More

   |    Reply

I lived in San Jose for 40 years. That’s during the most exciting time when the Silicon Valley was booming with real technology and San Jose was ranked as the safest big  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

I've lived in San Jose, CA for 25 years. This city is being over run with crime and gangs. The cost of living is very high. Granted, you are so close to mountains,  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of San Jose

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


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.