Calimesa, CA vs Santa Paula, CA

Calimesa is moderately more affordable than Santa Paula, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Calimesa scores 128 compared to 137 for Santa Paula, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Santa Paula can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Calimesa is $1,852/month compared to $1,698/month in Santa Paula — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Santa Paula has cheaper rent, Calimesa actually has lower median home values ($423,300 vs $559,300).

Median household income in Calimesa is $90,313 compared to $77,130 in Santa Paula (+17.1%). Calimesa offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Calimesa spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Santa Paula.