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City · 110,330 residents · Orange County, California

Costa Mesa , California

In Costa Mesa, a typical home is worth $1,115,100 and typical rent is $2,446 a month. Compared with all of Orange County, the typical home value is 16% higher and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,115,100

    16% above the county

    52% above California

    • Costa Mesa
    • Orange
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,446a month

    About the same as the county

    20% above California

    • Costa Mesa
    • Orange
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $111,505a year

    4% below the county

    12% above California

    • Costa Mesa
    • Orange
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    40%

    17 points below the county

    16 points below California

    • Costa Mesa
    • Orange
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,419,109
6.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$3,121 a month
3.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Costa Mesa is in Orange County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Orange County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Costa Mesa apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Santa Ana, the typical home value is $713,000: 36% less than in Costa Mesa ($1,115,100).

  2. Nearby, in Midway City, the typical rent is $1,611: 34% less than in Costa Mesa ($2,446).

  3. 40% of households in Costa Mesa own their home, against 56% in Orange County.

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Costa Mesa rose 6.4%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

  5. The typical home in Costa Mesa is worth $1,115,100, 16% more than in Orange County as a whole ($962,600).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Costa Mesa

What homes there are in Costa Mesa, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Costa Mesa there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (39%); in Orange County, 49%.

Year built

The typical home in Costa Mesa was built in 1972, 5 years before the typical one in Orange County.

In Costa Mesa, 24% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 43% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 56% in Orange County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,315 a month

Orange County: $3,385 a month

Without a mortgage

$770 a month

Orange County: $902 a month

Owners with a mortgage

74%

Orange County: 67%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Costa Mesa is $3,315 a month, near the figure in Orange County ($3,385).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Costa Mesa gained value faster than in Orange County: 49% against 42%.

The typical rent in Costa Mesa rose 32% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Orange County (31%).

While home values in Costa Mesa changed +49% and rent +32%, the typical household income rose 33%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCosta MesaOrange CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 4.3%4.4%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 8.3%8.9%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.562.872.842.53
Drive alone 62%68%66%69%
Carpool 8%9%10%9%
Public transit 2%1%3%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%3%3%
Work from home 22%19%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Orange County, the rental vacancy rate in Costa Mesa is 4.3%.

Much as in Orange County, 8.3% of households in Costa Mesa have more than one person per room.

On average, a household in Costa Mesa has 2.56 people, fewer than in Orange County (2.87).

In Costa Mesa, 22% of workers work from home, more than in Orange County (19%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Costa Mesa?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Costa Mesa, worth $1,115,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 98% of the typical household income in Costa Mesa, which is $111,505 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $390,911 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Orange County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Costa Mesa. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $39,029 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$9,121

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,094,902
Total interest
$1,575,307
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $18,831 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,602 a month

  • Tight

    $2,602 to $3,345 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,345 a month

    Your payment · 98%

Compared with the typical household income in Costa Mesa ($111,505 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$9,121
Principal & interest$7,417
Property tax$567
Home insurance$465
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$673

You need at least $39,029 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Costa Mesa and Orange County

Costa Mesa is in Orange County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Costa Mesa's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,115,100
Typical monthly rent
$2,446
Typical yearly household income
$111,505
Households that own their home
40%
Effective property tax rate
0.61%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Orange County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$3,057
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Orange County.

Everything about Orange County

Buying

Buying a home in Costa Mesa

A typical home in Costa Mesa is worth $1,115,100: 16% above the county and 52% above California. With the typical household income in Costa Mesa ($111,505 a year), a typical home costs 10.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Costa Mesa 10.0 years
  • Orange 8.3 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Orange County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Orange County rose 89% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Orange County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +89% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Costa Mesa next to Orange County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Costa Mesa $1,115,100
  • Orange $962,600
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Costa Mesa $2,446
  • Orange $2,434
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Costa Mesa $111,505
  • Orange $116,289
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Costa Mesa next to Orange County and California
Measure Costa Mesa Orange County California U.S.
Typical home value $1,115,100 $962,600 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,446 $2,434 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $111,505 $116,289 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 40% 56% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,839 $6,330 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.61% 0.66% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 53% 57% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Orange County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Costa Mesa

For a typical $1,115,100 home in Costa Mesa, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Costa Mesa's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $9,121a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $39,029
    Cash to close
    $72,482
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $673

  • Conventional, 5% down $8,738a month

    Down payment
    $55,755
    Cash to close
    $89,208
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $530

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $7,075a month

    Down payment
    $223,020
    Cash to close
    $256,473
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $8,106a month

    Down payment
    $167,265
    Cash to close
    $200,718
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Costa Mesa and for Orange County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Costa Mesa

0.61%of the home’s value each year

$6,839 a year for the typical owner in Costa Mesa.

  • Costa Mesa 0.61%
  • Orange 0.66%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Orange County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Orange County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.8%
22,389
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.8% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Costa Mesa

Typical rent in Costa Mesa is $2,446 a month: about the same as the county. In Costa Mesa, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Orange County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,057 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $58.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Orange County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,580 $49.62 $103,200
1 bedroom $2,610 $50.19 $104,400
2 bedrooms $3,057 $58.79 $122,280
3 bedrooms $4,153 $79.87 $166,120
4 bedrooms $4,964 $95.46 $198,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Costa Mesa

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Costa Mesa has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,080 in 92627 to $3,440 in 92626.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Orange County ($3,057).

  • 92626 $3,440$4,670
  • 92627 $3,080$4,180

A ZIP code counts for Costa Mesa when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Costa Mesa

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Costa Mesa. These are the largest.

  • Tower on 19th 678 W 19th St, Costa Mesa 92627 270 homes, 266 low-income · Studio: 186 · 1 bd: 67 · 2 bd: 17 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Casa Bella 1840 Park Ave, Costa Mesa 92627 75 homes, 74 low-income · For older adults
  • ST Johns Manor 2031 Orange Ave, Costa Mesa 92627 36 low-income homes · 1 bd: 36 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (949) 645-3728
  • Costa Mesa Village 2450 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa 92627 73 homes, 24 low-income (949) 642-8226

See all 236 buildings in Orange County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Costa Mesa

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 10 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Orange County; 6 say they serve in Spanish.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Costa Mesa

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Costa Mesa or Orange County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Costa Mesa the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Costa Mesa

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Costa Mesa, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Vital Access Care Foundation

    17150 Newhope St, Fountain Valley · 3 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Vietnamese.

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Homelessness services
    • and 2 more
    (888) 497-1511

  • Greenpath Financial Wellness

    5151 California Ave, Irvine · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (866) 217-0543

  • Epicenter Foundation

    305 W 4th St, Santa Ana · 6 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (714) 410-2414

Every agency in Orange County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Costa Mesa

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Costa Mesa

HUD’s record names them for Costa Mesa or Orange County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

3 other authorities have an office in Orange County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Orange County

These cities are also in Orange County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Orange County Housing in California
See 28 more cities in Orange County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Costa Mesa, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Orange County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Costa Mesa.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Costa Mesa

Short answers with the numbers for Costa Mesa and all of Orange County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Costa Mesa?

The typical home value in Costa Mesa is $1,115,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Orange County it is $962,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Costa Mesa?

Typical rent in Costa Mesa is $2,446 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Orange County is $3,057.

What is the FHA loan limit in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa uses the FHA limit for all of Orange County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Costa Mesa?

The typical homeowner in Costa Mesa pays $6,839 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.61% of the home’s value; in Orange County, the rate is 0.66%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Costa Mesa?

There are 10 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Orange County. 6 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).