Costa Mesa, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Costa Mesa, CA

Is Costa Mesa safe?

Costa Mesa earns an overall crime grade of C+ city-wide, but its neighborhood-level picture is considerably brighter: the city-wide safety rating comes in at a B (Safe), and a full 88% of the city's 17 analyzed neighborhoods carry an A or B grade. Specifically, 64.7% of neighborhoods hold an A-range grade and 23.5% hold a B-range grade, leaving only 11.8% in the C range — and zero neighborhoods rated D or F. Standout safe zones include Lower Bird Streets (A+), The State Streets (A+), Balearic Park (A+), and The Island Streets (A+). The areas with the most room for improvement are John Wayne Airport and Costa Mesa Business Park, both graded C+, and the Orange County Fairgrounds / Orange Coast College corridor at a B. For the vast majority of residents, Costa Mesa is a demonstrably safe place to live and visit.

What is the crime rate in Costa Mesa?

Across the 17 neighborhoods analyzed, Costa Mesa's crime distribution breaks down as follows: 11 neighborhoods (64.7%) earned an A grade, 4 neighborhoods (23.5%) earned a B grade, and 2 neighborhoods (11.8%) landed in the C range. No neighborhood received a D or F. The two C-grade areas — John Wayne Airport (C+) and Costa Mesa Business Park (C+) — are primarily commercial and industrial corridors rather than dense residential zones, which helps explain their elevated incident rates relative to the rest of the city. By contrast, large residential neighborhoods like Eastside Costa Mesa (population ~25,367, Grade A) and Mesa del Mar (population ~8,156, Grade A-) serve tens of thousands of residents at high safety levels. The city's median household income of $90,370 and unemployment rate of 4.8% are consistent with a community that maintains relatively low crime pressure across most of its geography.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Costa Mesa?

Four neighborhoods share the top A+ safety grade in Costa Mesa: Lower Bird Streets (median income $181,178), The State Streets (median income $112,565), Balearic Park (median income $155,428), and The Island Streets (median income $142,962). All four combine low crime incidence with above-average household incomes, suggesting strong community investment in safety. Stepping just below A+, College Park (A) and Eastside Costa Mesa (A) — the city's most populous neighborhood at roughly 25,000 residents — maintain excellent safety records with median incomes around $101,000–$104,000. Rounding out the A-tier are The Tree Streets (A-), The Spice Streets (A-), Costa Mesa North Industrial / Business Park (A-), and Mesa del Mar (A-). Collectively, these ten neighborhoods cover the majority of Costa Mesa's residential population and account for all 11 A-grade areas in the dataset.

Which areas of Costa Mesa have higher crime?

The neighborhoods with the highest relative crime grades in Costa Mesa are John Wayne Airport (C+) and Costa Mesa Business Park (C+) — both of which are predominantly non-residential in character, meaning foot traffic and incident reporting patterns differ from typical residential neighborhoods. The Orange County Fairgrounds / Orange Coast College area grades at a B, reflecting moderate activity levels likely tied to large public events and a dense student population. Upper Bird Streets and Bristol / Paularino also land at B and B+, respectively — still solidly in the "safe" tier but with slightly more incident activity than the A-rated residential enclaves nearby. Importantly, no neighborhood in Costa Mesa received a D or F grade, meaning even the higher-crime areas remain within a manageable safety range compared to many other California cities.

Is Costa Mesa a good place to live?

The data makes a strong case for Costa Mesa as a livable city. With a median household income of $90,370, a median home value of $804,938, and a median rent of $1,927, the city sits firmly in Orange County's middle-to-upper economic tier. The unemployment rate of 4.8% and a poverty rate of 10.3% are consistent with a stable local economy. On the safety side, 88% of neighborhoods grade A or B, and the most populous residential areas — including Eastside Costa Mesa (A, ~25,000 residents) and Mesa del Mar (A-, ~8,000 residents) — carry top-tier safety ratings. The population density of 2,759 people per square mile reflects a moderately dense urban environment that still supports walkable, community-oriented living. For families, professionals, and retirees weighing an Orange County address, Costa Mesa's combination of economic strength, cultural amenities, and predominantly A-rated neighborhoods makes it a compelling choice.