Costa Mesa, California
About Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa is a mid-size city in southeastern California with an estimated population of 109,131. It stands among the 500 most populous places in the United States (#297 nationwide).
Costa Mesa holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 15.81 square miles, giving it a compact, walkable footprint at roughly 6,903 residents per square mile.
📰 Costa Mesa News Today
- Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Costa Mesa—Orange County’s City of the Arts Condé Nast Traveler · Aug 12
- Costa Mesa Girls Flag Football Schedule MaxPreps · Aug 13
- California Sues Costa Mesa Over Lack of ‘Compliant’ Housing Plan Voice of OC · Jul 16
- Maleza, the modern Mexican restaurant at Drift Palm Springs hotel, is opening in Costa Mesa, California Nation’s Restaurant News · Aug 10
- Fairview Developmental Center plan clears Costa Mesa planning commission Orange County Register · Aug 13
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Costa Mesa Unique
- The only place in America named Costa Mesa — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
- Positioned in southeastern California, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
- Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.
Why People Love It Here
- A deep job market and services that draw people from across the region.
- Serious economic gravity — one of the region's employment and cultural hubs.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.
📍 Neighborhoods in Costa Mesa
Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Costa Mesa
- Agora Churrascaria
- AnQi Bistro — vietnamese
- Bistango Restaurant
- Bosscat Kitchen and Libations
- Cafe 538 (café)
- Cal Shabu — japanese
- Chewie & Mellow Desserts (café)
- Coffee Dose — coffee shop (café)
- Din Tai Fung — taiwanese
- Divine Mediterranean Experience — mediterranean
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Costa Mesa Historical Society · Museum
- Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California A · Museum
- Lyon Air Museum · Museum
- Orange County Museum of Art · Museum
- Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center · Attraction
- Bear Street Gallery · Art gallery
- Chuck E. Cheese
- Dennis Kelly Public Aquarium · Aquarium
- Heroes Hall Museum · Museum
- Liulu · Art gallery
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Costa Mesa
- Aldrich Park reviews ★
- Brentwood Park reviews ★
- California Scenario reviews ★
- Canyon Park reviews ★
- Del Mesa Park reviews ★
- Estancia Park reviews ★
- Fairview Park reviews ★
- Gisler Park reviews ★
- Harper Park reviews ★
- Heller Park reviews ★
- Jordan Park reviews ★
- Lindbergh School Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Costa Mesa
- Back Bay High
- California Elementary
- California Pacific Charter - San Diego
- California Pacific Charter- Los Angeles
- Central Orange County CTE Partnership (CTEp)
- Coastline ROP
- College Park Elementary
- Costa Mesa High
- Estancia High
- Heinz Kaiser Elementary
- International School for Science and Culture
- Killybrooke Elementary
- Paularino Elementary
- Victoria Elementary
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- College Hospital Costa Mesa
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.