Orange County
Costa Mesa
The city with no beach of its own, which is exactly why people end up here. Arts, food and proximity to the coast without a coastal address.
Costa Mesa has no beachfront inside its city limits, and being straightforward about that explains the city better than anything else. What it has instead is proximity: the sand at Newport or Huntington is a short drive, and the money that would have gone into a beach address goes somewhere else.
What it built instead is an arts and retail centre unusual for a city this size. South Coast Plaza and the Segerstrom Center anchor one end, and an independent food and brewery scene runs through the middle. Peak activity here follows shopping hours and performance times rather than beach season.
The sides of town
Where people actually live in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa is usually described by side rather than by neighbourhood name, and the distinctions are real.
- Eastside
- Borders Newport Beach and is the most sought after side. Post war and ranch housing, with 17th Street carrying the coffee, bars and restaurants. Coastal adjacency without a coastal address.
- Westside
- Historically the industrial side, now carrying much of the brewery and maker scene. Housing stock is more mixed, and change here has been faster than anywhere else in the city.
- Mesa Verde
- Established single family neighbourhoods against the Santa Ana River, with Fairview Park and its trails adjoining. The most conventionally suburban part of the city.
- South Coast Metro
- Around South Coast Plaza and the Segerstrom Center. Denser, more condominiums and apartments, and walkable to a genuinely significant arts venue.
- Halecrest and College Park
- Mid century tract neighbourhoods in the middle of the city, near Orange Coast College. Quieter, and generally where people find the most house for the money.
Worth knowing
Four things to check before you commit
- 01The Newport border matters more than the city lineAn Eastside address near the border and a Newport Beach address a few streets away can differ substantially in price while sharing the same daily routine. Worth comparing both sides deliberately.
- 02Older housing means older systemsMuch of the city is post war. Budget for electrical, plumbing and sewer lateral condition, and get a proper inspection rather than relying on a seller disclosure.
- 03Check the specific street for flight pathsJohn Wayne Airport is close, and noise varies noticeably by location. Visit at different times of day before deciding.
- 04Fairground weekends are realThe OC Fair and Event Center runs events well beyond the summer fair, and nearby streets feel it. If you are looking close by, ask neighbours rather than guessing.
Confirm school attendance boundaries directly with the district for the specific address. Boundaries change, and a neighbourhood name is not a guarantee of assignment.
Lindsey Marino
Orange County native, and a licensed California real estate agent. What I do
CA DRE 02055819
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