Costa Mesa is centrally located between Los Angeles and San Diego, minutes from the beach, in California's sun-drenched Orange County. Costa Mesa was named in 1920 when a contest was held offering a prize of $25 to the person who came up with the best name. Teacher Alice Plumer won the contest with the name "Costa Mesa" meaning "coastal tableland".
About 35 miles south of Los Angeles, the city was incorporated in 1953, when it was a semi-rural farming community of 16,840. Now, it's a suburban city of about 113,825, offering world-class shopping, arts, and dining.
Why Book Student Accommodation in Costa Mesa?
Costa Mesa is in Orange County and is one of the best places to live in California. The city offers you 24-hour entertainment options, nightlife, and a healthy amount of sunshine every day. The lovely sunny weather is one of the best attractions of the town, which is often considered one of the warmest places in America. Costa Mesa also has well-groomed county beaches that offer stunning views and plenty of restaurants, theatres, and museums to visit. It offers a rare balance between urban amenities and suburban tranquillity.
Institutions of higher learning located in Costa Mesa include Orange Coast College, one of the largest and most comprehensive community colleges in California; Whittier Law School; and National University.
Universities in Costa Mesa
Orange Coast College
Casita’s accommodation options are within walking distance to the university.
More than 4 bus stops surround the campus; Adams-Fairview is just a 6-minute walk away.
Heroes Hall Museum is just a 12-minute walk away.
Whittier Law School
Our accommodation options are all within walking distance of the campus.
MacArthur-Harbor bus stop is just a 12-minute walk away.
Diego Sepulveda Adobe is just an 8-minute car ride away.
National University
Casita has multiple accommodation options within walking distance to the university.
There are two bus stops close to the university; 11099 Callan Rd is just a 10-minute walk away.
Flat Rock is just a 10-minute car ride away.
Student Life
Is Costa Mesa a good place to live?
The answer is yes, Costa Mesa is one of the best places to live in California. With most residents renting their homes, living in this part of Orange County offers residents an urban-suburban mix fee. Costa Mesa has a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. The many young professionals living in Costa Mesa tend to be liberal. The city’s public schools are highly rated.
Is Costa Mesa expensive to live in?
Costa Mesa can be cheaper than other California cities. For example, the cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 3.8% higher than in Costa Mesa. You would have to earn a salary of $62,309 to maintain your current standard of living.
Is Costa Mesa Safe?
Costa Mesa can be one of the safest cities to visit; but like any other place in the world, it also has its share of crime. The city's Westside is lower-income and highly industrial; making it a somewhat popular destination for homeless people. The local police department does patrols on a routine basis, however, so criminal incidents are limited at worst.
Must-Visit Places in Costa Mesa
One of the must-visit places in this vibrant city is its famous Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Established in 1986 as the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the renamed Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a modern performing arts centre and one of the top Costa Mesa attractions. The city is also home to lots of shopping outlets, 30 well-maintained parks, a golf course, and three libraries. Costa Mesa is a short drive from some of the most famous California beach towns such as Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach. Disneyland Resort is also a quick trip away. Other amazing places you must check out include South Coast Repertory Theater, Costa Mesa Estancia, and South Coast Plaza.
Transportation in Costa Mesa
As with most parts of Southern California, Costa Mesa is a car-dependent community. You can make use of public transportation if you don’t want to drive. There are a few options in and around the City of Costa Mesa. These include The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Metrolink (Tustin). OCTA operates 58 bus routes under the OC Bus brand, encompassing every city in Orange County, while you can use Metrolink to travel between six counties. Ridesharing is also a super popular option, and you’ll find all the major services there, such as Lyft and Uber.
Nearby Student Accommodation In California
Casita offers student accommodation in other California cities as well, besides having facilities for student accommodation in Costa Mesa. These cities are:
Alhambra, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and West Hollywood.