Is Costa Mesa or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Costa Mesa (Safety Score 19/100 vs 12/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,575 for Costa Mesa — 15% lower. Costa Mesa has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Costa Mesa has a 60% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 77.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Costa Mesa — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Costa Mesa, CA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Costa Mesa | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,575.3 | 3,039.7 | +535.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 738.6 | 671.4 | +67.1 |
| Murder Rate | 2.8 | 3.9 | -1.1 |
| Rape Rate | 61.6 | 23.4 | +38.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 74.6 | 187.5 | -112.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 598.7 | 456.2 | +142.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,836.8 | 2,368.3 | +468.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 371.2 | 154.7 | +216.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,183.1 | 2,015.0 | +168.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 282.6 | 198.5 | +84.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Costa Mesa or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,575 for Costa Mesa — a 15% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Costa Mesa has a violent crime rate of 738.6 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.
About Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa, a city of over 110,000 in Orange County, is known for its Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Bordered by the Santa Ana River to the west, it features diverse residential and commercial areas. With a safety score of 12/100 and a population coverage of 107,235, Costa Mesa has a total crime rate of 3,575.3 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.