Costa Mesa, CA Demographics

A map of Costa Mesa's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	52,376	54,169	47.5%	48.4%
Hispanic	40,414	40,795	36.6%	36.5%
Asian	8,954	9,455	8.1%	8.4%
Multiracial	5,053	4,931	4.6%	4.4%
Black	1,915	1,306	1.7%	1.2%
Native American/Other	1,618	1,262	1.5%	1.1%

Costa Mesa, California has an estimated population of 110,330, a slight decrease from the 111,918 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 47.5% White, 36.6% Hispanic, 8.1% Asian, 4.6% Multiracial, 1.7% Black, and 1.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Costa Mesa, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Costa Mesa has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Costa Mesa, that probability was 62.4% in 2020 and 63.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Costa Mesa is ranked the 62nd most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Costa Mesa was ranked the 59th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Costa Mesa's White Population

52,376 residents of Costa Mesa, or 47.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Costa Mesa is considerably higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Costa Mesa ranks 961st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Costa Mesa's White population has declined by an estimated 3.3%. White residents' share of Costa Mesa's population has decreased from 48.4% to 47.5%.

Costa Mesa is more White than neighboring Fountain Valley (37.6% White), Santa Ana (8.9% White), and Midway City (15.5% White). Costa Mesa is less White than neighboring Newport Beach (75.6% White), and Huntington Beach (59% White).

Costa Mesa's Black Population

1,915 residents of Costa Mesa, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Costa Mesa is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Costa Mesa ranks 657th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Costa Mesa's Black population has grown by an estimated 46.6%. Black residents' share of Costa Mesa's population has increased from 1.2% to 1.7%.

Costa Mesa is more Black than neighboring Fountain Valley (1.6% Black), Newport Beach (0.8% Black), Santa Ana (0.7% Black), Huntington Beach (1.3% Black), and Midway City (1.1% Black).

Costa Mesa's Asian Population

8,954 residents of Costa Mesa, or 8.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Costa Mesa is lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Costa Mesa ranks 340th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Costa Mesa's Asian population has declined by an estimated 5.3%. Asian residents' share of Costa Mesa's population has remained roughly unchanged at 8.1%.

Costa Mesa is more Asian than neighboring Newport Beach (7.8% Asian). Costa Mesa is less Asian than neighboring Fountain Valley (36.7% Asian), Santa Ana (12.3% Asian), Huntington Beach (13% Asian), and Midway City (41.4% Asian).

Costa Mesa's Hispanic Population

40,414 residents of Costa Mesa, or 36.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Costa Mesa is slightly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Costa Mesa ranks 533rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Costa Mesa's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of Costa Mesa's population has remained roughly unchanged at 36.6%.

Costa Mesa is more Hispanic than neighboring Fountain Valley (17.2% Hispanic), Newport Beach (9.9% Hispanic), Huntington Beach (18.8% Hispanic), and Midway City (36.1% Hispanic). Costa Mesa is less Hispanic than neighboring Santa Ana (76.6% Hispanic).

Costa Mesa's Native American/Other Population

1,618 residents of Costa Mesa, or 1.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Costa Mesa is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Costa Mesa ranks 890th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Costa Mesa's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 28.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Costa Mesa's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Costa Mesa is more Native American/Other than neighboring Newport Beach (0.7% Native American/Other), Santa Ana (0.4% Native American/Other), and Huntington Beach (1.2% Native American/Other). Costa Mesa is less Native American/Other than neighboring Fountain Valley (2% Native American/Other), and Midway City (3% Native American/Other).

Costa Mesa's Multiracial Population

5,053 residents of Costa Mesa, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Costa Mesa is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Costa Mesa ranks 863rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Costa Mesa's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Costa Mesa's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.6%.

Costa Mesa is more Multiracial than neighboring Santa Ana (1% Multiracial), and Midway City (3% Multiracial). Costa Mesa is less Multiracial than neighboring Fountain Valley (4.9% Multiracial), Newport Beach (5.1% Multiracial), and Huntington Beach (6.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.