Allentown PA vs Costa Mesa CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Allentown, PA

Pennsylvania · Population: 125,320

Median HH Income$53,403
Median Home Price$312,103
Unemployment8.8%
Bachelor's+19.4%

Costa Mesa, CA

California · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$1,416,645
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Allentown

125,320

Costa Mesa

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

N/A

Median Age

Allentown

32.4

Costa Mesa

N/A

Foreign Born

Allentown

20.8%

Costa Mesa

N/A

White

Allentown

42.3%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Black

Allentown

13.0%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Asian

Allentown

2.5%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Hispanic

Allentown

53.8%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Spanish at Home

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Population	125,320	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.4	N/A	-
Foreign Born	20.8%	N/A	-
White	42.3%	N/A	-
Black	13.0%	N/A	-
Asian	2.5%	N/A	-
Hispanic	53.8%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Allentown

$53,403

Costa Mesa

N/A

Per Capita Income

Allentown

$25,846

Costa Mesa

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Allentown

$65,080

Costa Mesa

$77,230

Costa Mesa +

Unemployment Rate

Allentown

8.8%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Poverty Rate

Allentown

21.6%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Allentown

19.4%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Median HH Income	$53,403	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$25,846	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,080	$77,230	Costa Mesa +
Unemployment Rate	8.8%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	21.6%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	19.4%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Allentown

$312,103

Allentown +

Costa Mesa

$1,416,645

Homeownership Rate

Allentown

42.3%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$312,103	$1,416,645	Allentown +
Homeownership Rate	42.3%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Allentown

319

Allentown +

Costa Mesa

503

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Allentown

1613

Allentown +

Costa Mesa

2388

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	319	503	Allentown +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1613	2388	Allentown +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

25.7%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

9.3%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

17.9%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

9.8%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

18.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Costa Mesa

9.7%

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	N/A	25.7%	-
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	N/A	9.3%	-
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	N/A	17.9%	-
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	N/A	9.8%	-
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	N/A	18.1%	-
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	N/A	9.7%	-

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Allentown

51.2°F

Costa Mesa

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Allentown

45.4 in

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	51.2°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	45.4 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Allentown

9.8 µg/m³

Costa Mesa

7.9 µg/m³

Costa Mesa +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Allentown

55.0%

Costa Mesa

75.0%

Costa Mesa +

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.8 µg/m³	7.9 µg/m³	Costa Mesa +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Costa Mesa +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Allentown

26.3 min

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.3 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Allentown offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $312,103. On public safety, Allentown is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³).

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About Allentown & Costa Mesa

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