Costa Mesa, California Population 2026
Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
The population of Costa Mesa, California is 110,538 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 60th-largest city in California. The median household income is $110,073, the median home value is $1,054,700, and the median age is 36.5.
The population has declined 1.0% since 2010 (110,221 → 109,131).
110,538
Population
6993
People / sq mi
$110,073
Median Income
$1,054,700
Median Home Value
Costa Mesa covers 15.8 sq mi of land at 6993 people per square mile.
About Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa is a city in California with a population of 110,538. It ranks #60 among cities in California by population. The median age is 36.5, younger than the national median. The population is 51.0% male and 49.0% female.
The median household income in Costa Mesa is $110,073, above the US median of $74,580. 5.2% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $1,054,700, with monthly rent averaging $2,395. The homeownership rate of 39.4% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.
Educational attainment in Costa Mesa reflects 43.6% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 20.0% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 22.1 minutes each way.
Costa Mesa city Population History (2010-2024)
The city of Costa Mesa city had a population of 110,221 in 2010 and 109,131 in 2024, a -1.0% growth over 14 years. The peak was 113,665 in 2017. Average annual growth rate: -0.07%.
109,131
Population (2024)
110,221
Population (2010)
113,665
Peak (2017)
-0.07%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 110,221 |
| 2011 | 111,151 |
| 2012 | 111,790 |
| 2013 | 112,244 |
| 2014 | 112,485 |
| 2015 | 112,808 |
| 2016 | 112,933 |
| 2017 | 113,665 |
| 2018 | 113,302 |
| 2019 | 113,003 |
| 2020 | 112,050 |
| 2021 | 111,043 |
| 2022 | 110,111 |
| 2023 | 109,302 |
| 2024 | 109,131 |
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 52.7% |
| Black or African American | 1.6% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.5% |
| Two or More Races | 0.2% |
Economy & Income
$110,073
Median Household Income
$56,625
Per Capita Income
5.2%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
Housing
$1,054,700
Median Home Value
$2,395
Median Rent
39.4%
Owner-Occupied
Education
87.8%
High School+
43.6%
Bachelor's+
Commute
1.6%
Drive Alone
65.2%
Public Transit
20.0%
Work From Home
22.1 min
Avg Commute
Community Profile
17.5%
Foreign Born
63.2%
Non-English at Home
3.4%
Veterans
8.5%
With Disability
89.4%
Health Insurance
97.6%
Internet Access
Employment by Industry
| Professional, Scientific & Management | 17.7% |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 17.4% |
| Education, Health Care & Social Services | 12.1% |
| Information | 9.4% |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% |
| Construction | 7.7% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Food Services | 6.0% |
| Retail Trade | 3.4% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 1.9% |
| Public Administration | 1.2% |
| Agriculture & Mining | 0.9% |
Largest cities in California
Largest counties in California
Part of California
Metro areas in California
City rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa, California has a population of 110,538 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 60th-largest city in California.
The median household income in Costa Mesa, California is $110,073, with 5.2% of residents living below the federal poverty level.
The median home value in Costa Mesa, California is $1,054,700, with median monthly rent at $2,395 and a homeownership rate of 39.4%.
The median age in Costa Mesa, California is 36.5 years. The population is 51.0% male and 49.0% female.
The population has declined 1.0% since 2010 (110,221 → 109,131).
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Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.