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Westside Costa Mesa combines beach proximity with more affordable pricing than neighboring Newport Beach. Rental options include everything from apartments to California bungalows, many with outdoor living spaces perfect for enjoying the perfect climate. The neighborhood offers excellent access to both beach recreation and the dining options along 17th Street, creating an ideal balance for coastal enthusiasts seeking value within Orange County's premium market.
Eclectic energy defines this enclave where the LAB Anti-Mall hosts avant-garde art installations. Renters love walkability to OC Fairgrounds but contend with event-related parking shortages. Many 1960s courtyard complexes lack central AC despite coastal humidity.
Creative energy flows through Eastside Costa Mesa, where modest beach bungalows and California ranch homes attract artists, musicians, and young professionals seeking coastal proximity without Newport Beach prices. The neighborhood's walking distance to both Newport Beach's Upper Back Bay nature preserve and 17th Street's restaurant row creates perfect balance between natural and urban amenities. Though some properties show their age with vintage quirks requiring maintenance knowledge beyond typical renter experience, the trade-off comes in architectural character and established gardens unavailable in newer developments. The primary consideration remains street parking challenges, particularly during summer beach season when visitor overflow affects residential areas. The neighborhood perfectly balances coastal accessibility with authentic community character increasingly rare in Orange County's more developed beach communities.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
Apartment List has released results for Costa Mesa from the second annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. The survey, which drew on responses from over 30,000 renters, provides insight into what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the 105 million American renters nationwide.
“According to our results, renters in Costa Mesa are satisfied with the city overall,” says Andrew Woo, Director of Data Science at Apartment List. “They gave a mix of above- and below-average scores.”
Key findings in Costa Mesa include the following: