Overall rank 222 out of 1731
Population group rank 66 out of 254
Sustainability score of 635.74 out of 1,000

The larger the score the more sustainable a city is compared with other US cities. City scores were ranked against all cities in the US (Overall rank) and those within their population group. The population groups are 1-10K, 10-25K, 25-50K, 50-100K, and 100K+.

Costa Mesa, CA had an average population of 112,245 people in 2021 according to the US Census Bureau.

Overall rank 93 out of 1731
Population group rank 23 out of 254
Total score 397.19 out of 400

Cities with a higher score used less energy per person compared to other US cities. Data from a 2019 city energy survey and the 2012-2016 average population. We chose eight features to include: residential, commercial, and industrial electricity and natural gas consumption (6 features), as well as on road consumption of gasoline and diesel (2 features).

The energy sector is 40% of the final index.

Electricity (MWh) and natural gas (MCF) used per person across residential, commercial, and industrial areas of the city. More energy consumption per person (darker red/orange) is less sustainable.

Gasoline and diesel (gallons) used per person. Higher consumption (darker red/orange) is less sustainable.

Overall rank 185 out of 1731
Population group rank 45 out of 254
Total score 135.43 out of 200

Walkability score based on a 2019 US National Walkability Index, which ranks a city’s density, the diversity of land-use, and people’s proximity to public transit. The larger the score the more walkable a city is.

The walkability sector is 20% of the final index.

Overall rank 305 out of 1731
Population group rank 102 out of 254
Total score 5.24 out of 200

We use the US Environmental Protection Agency’s estimate of the proportion of the population with access to public transit. The more people who can get around the city by public transit the higher the score and more sustainable the city. The EPA's transit coverage is limited to metro areas served by transit agencies that provide their data in a GTFS format, as a result the data leans towards US cities with a university. We plan to add TransitScore data soon to improve this sector.

The public transit sector is 20% of the final index.

Overall rank 757 out of 1731
Population group rank 155 out of 254
Total score 0.01 out of 50

A higher score means a city has more farms and local gardens per person than other US cities.

The farming sector is 5% of the final index.

Total local farms and community gardens. Darker green/blue is more sustainable as more residents have access to local food. All locations taken from Google maps and My Health Forward in June 2024.

Overall rank 861 out of 1731
Population group rank 176 out of 254
Total score 0.12 out of 50

Cities with a higher score support more reuse businesses, use their local library more, or have more Little Free Libraries than other US cities. Data points pulled from Google maps and the Little Free Library website in June 2024. Point data per capita based on 2017-2021 average population, while library visits are based on their legal service area population.

The reuse sector is 5% of the final index.

Library visits and Little Free Libraries per person. Darker green/blue is more sustainable because of higher reuse of community items. Find out how you can track your Little Free Library book use here.

Total sustainable stores and refilleries. Darker green/blue is more sustainable.

Overall rank 1349 out of 1731
Population group rank 212 out of 254
Total score 97.76 out of 100

Cities with a higher score have better air quality. Data based on 2018-2023 average air quality index.

The air quality sector is 10% of the final index.

Air Quality Index (AQI) through time, larger values (darker red/orange) is more polluted air. Missing data for previous years assumed to equal the first year of data availability. We collected annual average AQI data from IQAir, which measures the density of particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in the air (PM2.5). AQI ranges from 0 to 500, but a healthy AQI is 0 to 5 PM2.5 (lower the better).