Apartments for Rent in Costa Mesa, CA
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Renter's guide to Costa Mesa, CA

Known as the city of the arts, Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, CA. The name translates to ‘coast table’, or more accurately, the plateau by the coast, which describes the local geography perfectly. It’s among the top 50 best places to live for young professionals in the U.S., coming in at #39, and ranks as the 10th healthiest city in America. This comes as little surprise when you consider that it’s also the 15th best city for outdoor activities in America.

With a population of 112,930 and an area of 15.81 sq. miles, it has a population density of 7,219 people per square mile. While this may be considered high within the United States as a whole, it’s relatively low compared to other cities and neighborhoods within the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. It’s among the principal cities in LA, though it’s dwarfed by neighbors such as Irvine, and Huntington Beach, in terms of size and population.

Costa Mesa enjoys a semi-arid climate, resulting in mild temperatures throughout the year, and little rainfall, especially in summer. January is typically the coldest and wettest month, with average lows of around 47°F, and 2.5 inches of rainfall. August is generally the hottest month, with high temperatures averaging out at around 85°F. Throughout the year you can expect an average of 10.7 inches of rainfall.

Tips for renting in Costa Mesa, CA

Things to do in Costa Mesa, CA

For nature lovers, Costa Mesa is heaven on earth, with several parks within the city limits offering stunning views and a plethora of hiking trails. Fairview park offers spectacular views out to the ocean, hiking trails, a space reserved for flying model airplanes, and wildlife. In addition, it plays host to Costa Mesa Concerts in the Park, a free event featuring live music, a beer garden, and kids activities, which runs every Tuesday evening throughout July.

The OC Fair and Event Center also plays host to numerous markets and festivals throughout the year, including street food festivals, farmer’s markets, and many more. It’s also home to the iconic Orange County Fair, a 23-day extravaganza featuring funfair rides, concerts, carnival games, competitions, and workshops, making it fun for all the family.

Costa Mesa, CA employment & economy

As Costa Mesa is renowned as an international shopping mecca, it’s no surprise that retail trade is the most common industry, with almost 8,000 residents employed in retail and sales related occupations. Other common industries include accommodation and food services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. There’s also a higher than average number of people employed in real estate.

Besides retail, the most common jobs include management roles, and office and administration positions. A high number of residents also work in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations. The highest paid residents work in legal roles, healthcare, and architecture and engineering positions.

Several well-known companies have headquarters in Costa Mesa, including Experian, Toyota Racing Development, and Vans.

Education in Costa Mesa, CA

There is a total of 27 public schools within Costa Mesa, served by the Newport-Mesa unified school district. The top-rated high schools are Early College High School and the Costa Mesa High School. The Maude B. Davis Elementary School is the top-rated elementary school in the city and students frequently perform well above average in state tests. Killybrooke Elementary School is another top-rated school, and constantly performs above average.

There are also several higher education institutions within Costa Mesa, including the University of Pheonix-California, Orange County College, Whittier Law School, National University, and Vanguard University. With so many colleges offering a wide range of degrees, Costa Mesa is a popular college town.