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
Get Costa Mesa's next ACS population data
Subscribe for Population Review updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Costa Mesa covers 15.8 sq mi of land at 6993 people per square mile.
About Costa Mesa, CA
Housing cost is the defining feature of Costa Mesa: the median home is valued at $1,054,700. Costa Mesa is a city in California with a population of 110,538.
The typical household earns $110,073 a year, above the US median of $78,538. About 5.2% of residents live below the federal poverty level, below the national 12.4%. Home prices are steep, with the typical property valued at $1,054,700, with typical rent around $2,395.
Educational attainment is on the higher side for US cities — 43.6% of adults hold a four-year degree, above the national 35.0%. A solid 20.0% of workers are based at home, above the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 22 minutes each way.
High housing values reframe the income picture in Costa Mesa — even solid earnings stretch less against home prices and rents at this level.
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).
Where to stay in Costa Mesa
Visiting or relocating to Costa Mesa, CA? Compare hotels and short-term rentals across the metro — live availability and prices.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
More from California
Population 3,857,897
Population 1,385,061
Population 990,054
Population 836,321
Population 543,615
Full rankings of California cities by population
Statewide data for California
Population, race, income, age, and trends across California
Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.