Carmel IN 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)

Carmel, IN

Indiana · Population: 100,501

Median HH Income$134,602
Median Home Price$570,592
Unemployment2.7%
Bachelor's+74.5%

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

Carmel

100,501

Costa Mesa

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Carmel

N/A

Costa Mesa

N/A

Median Age

Carmel

40.5

Costa Mesa

N/A

Foreign Born

Carmel

12.9%

Costa Mesa

N/A

White

Carmel

77.5%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Black

Carmel

3.7%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Asian

Carmel

11.6%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Hispanic

Carmel

5.0%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Spanish at Home

Carmel

N/A

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Population	100,501	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	40.5	N/A	-
Foreign Born	12.9%	N/A	-
White	77.5%	N/A	-
Black	3.7%	N/A	-
Asian	11.6%	N/A	-
Hispanic	5.0%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Carmel

$134,602

Costa Mesa

N/A

Per Capita Income

Carmel

$71,546

Costa Mesa

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Carmel

$58,697

Costa Mesa

$77,230

Costa Mesa +

Unemployment Rate

Carmel

2.7%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Poverty Rate

Carmel

3.7%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Carmel

74.5%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Median HH Income	$134,602	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$71,546	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$58,697	$77,230	Costa Mesa +
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	3.7%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	74.5%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Carmel

$570,592

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

$1,416,645

Homeownership Rate

Carmel

74.6%

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$570,592	$1,416,645	Carmel +
Homeownership Rate	74.6%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Carmel

370

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

503

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Carmel

1719

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

2388

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	370	503	Carmel +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1719	2388	Carmel +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Carmel

30.8%

Costa Mesa

25.7%

Costa Mesa +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Carmel

9.6%

Costa Mesa

9.3%

Costa Mesa +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Carmel

12.5%

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

17.9%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Carmel

4.4%

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

9.8%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Carmel

16.2%

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

18.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Carmel

8.2%

Carmel +

Costa Mesa

9.7%

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	30.8%	25.7%	Costa Mesa +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	9.6%	9.3%	Costa Mesa +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	12.5%	17.9%	Carmel +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	4.4%	9.8%	Carmel +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	16.2%	18.1%	Carmel +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	8.2%	9.7%	Carmel +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Carmel

51.6°F

Costa Mesa

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Carmel

42.2 in

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	51.6°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	42.2 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Carmel

10.1 µg/m³

Costa Mesa

7.9 µg/m³

Costa Mesa +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Carmel

55.0%

Costa Mesa

75.0%

Costa Mesa +

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	10.1 µg/m³	7.9 µg/m³	Costa Mesa +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Costa Mesa +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Carmel

26.4 min

Costa Mesa

N/A

Metric	Carmel, IN	Costa Mesa, CA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.4 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Carmel offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $570,592. On public safety, Carmel is safer with a violent crime rate of 370 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Costa Mesa scores better with a lower obesity rate of 25.7%.

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About Carmel & Costa Mesa

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