Living in Costa Mesa
If you are moving to Costa Mesa, California be certain that you know these 6 things before you do!
Located in Orange County and with a population of 113,000, Costa Mesa is only a 20-minute drive from Victoria St and Harbor Blvd to the Irvine Spectrum, and under an hour drive to downtown Los Angeles during non-rush hours.
Costa Mesa is a fantastic place to call home. Many families and young professionals are relocating to the area for its convenient location, general safety, things to do, and stable job opportunities.
The History of Costa Mesa
Originally known as Harper in 1906, it was re-named to Costa Mesa in 1920 due to its location. The name means Coastal Table or Coastal Hill.
- Costa Mesa has a great education system
As part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, the schools in Costa Mesa are always adapting to stay current with the population’s demands. Home to some top-rated public schools in California, the Newport Mesa School District has 32 schools and instructs more than 19,000 students in its area.
Some of the best public schools in Costa Mesa are Maude B. Davis Elementary, Killybrooke Elementary, and Early College High School. Before you decide on a home to buy, confirm which school is designated for so you get your children to attend the right school.
For those searching for higher education courses, Orange Coast Community College is in Costa Mesa. Right off the 405 freeway, Orange Community College is offering its students challenging prerequisite courses to obtain your associates degree or to transfer to a 4-year college like UC Irvine.
Situated on a 164 acre campus numerous programs and areas of study including associate’s degree programs, certification programs, and vocational courses for skilled professions. However, if a four-year institution is more your style, UC Irvine, Chapman University and Concordia University are within driving distance and with in-state tuition.
- Employment
There are many job opportunities in Costa Mesa and adjacent cities like Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana, Lake Forest and Orange to name a few. The city’s largest employers with headquarters in Costa Mesa are
El Pollo Loco, Experian, Coast Community College District Foundation, Orange Coast College, Automobile Club of Southern California each have more than 1,000 employees.
- The cost of living and housing
With a cost of living 193% higher than the national average and higher than the California average, living in Costa Mesa indicates it is not very affordable. Costa Mesa also has a higher transportation, grocery prices, goods and services, and health care.
The homes for sale in Costa Mesa have a media value of $1,014,000 and mean you need either a 20 percent down payment or you can consult with a mortgage originator about your other options. No matter if you are in the market to buy an existing single-family home, new construction, a condo, a townhome, or multifamily, Costa Mesa has every type of property.
According to RentCafe, the average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment starts at $2,435 for a basic no frills apartment and $7,054 for a luxurious apartment with common amenities. In comparison, owning a home is not wrong in every situation.
- Things to do are abundant
Costa Mesa is most famous for the South Coast Plaza, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, culture and entertaining things to do. Another popular favorite is the South Coast Repertory Theater and the Noguchi Garden.
The city, which formally embraced the slogan “The City of the Arts” in 1999, is where you can find Pacific Symphony and the South Coast Repertory Theater and the Costa Mesa Historical Society. The Segerstrom Center for the Arts (previously known as Orange County Performing Arts Center) has 3000 seats for patrons.
- Enjoy the International Cuisine
Are you have an appetite for mexican, asian, cuban or american cooking? Then you won’t be disappointed with Costa Mesa. The city serves up all types of cuisines from various countries. If you like to discover new places to eat, check out some of these local favorite restaurants next time you’re in town.
- Habana Restaurant: Eat high quality Cuban food at this casual restaurant on Bristol St. Popular lunch menu and dinner, enjoy plantains, rice, black beans, and yellow rice with cuban drinks.
- Playa Mesa: Many choices, vegan black beans and rice, veggie tacos, potato fried tacos, enchiladas.
- Hanuman: Outstanding Thai food restaurant with great flavors and experience.
- Costa Mesa Events and Festivals
The annual events and festivals in Costa Mesa are looked forward to each year by Orange County residents and visitors alike. The annual Orange County Fair held in July is one of those events. If you want to enjoy the fair’s petting zoo, new exhibits, food, performances and carnival rides such as Euroslide, Rave Wave, Skyride, La Grande Wheel XL and Titan.
Concerts at the Camp occurs from June to September
Drive-in concerts held on Thursday nights from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm for live music and great food all from your car for safety and convenience.
Moving to Costa Mesa – Final Thoughts
Centrally located, travel only an hour south to San Diego or north to Los Angeles from Costa Mesa, and two hours to the mountains. The area provides residents a thriving economy along with parks and recreation while still being surrounded by scenic beaches and mountains. If you’re searching for a home in Costa Mesa, contact our real estate agents today!