2025 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Monica, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Costa Mesa spends 12.3% less per student than Santa Monica.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 6.2% higher in Costa Mesa than in Santa Monica. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Costa Mesa had 7.1% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Monica
 Santa Monica, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$15,277$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$14,374  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,037$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.86  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock163834573
 Students per Counselor380  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.1%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.2.6%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.6%88.9%
 Some College Educ.12.4%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.4%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.67.8%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock8.9%9.3%
 Professional Degree7.7%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.1%1.5%
Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I  More

   |    Reply

I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to  More

   |    Reply

I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Monica

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.