Bowie, MD vs La Mesa, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Bowie
69.4
#1212 nationally
La Mesa
62.8
#1822 nationally
La Mesa leads in walk score (60 vs 25). Bowie leads in crime level (5.3 vs 11.4). Bowie leads in median household income ($138,797 vs $83,649).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bowie, MD | La Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1212) | 62.8 (#1822) |
| Population | 57,254 | 60,537 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $526,880 | $896,209 |
| Median Household Income | $138,797 | $83,649 |
| Average Commute | 36.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 25 | 60 |
| Crime Level | 5.3 | 11.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 160 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+75.2 | D+16.8 |
D+
69.4 Score
Bowie, MD
Maryland community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$526,880
Population
57,254
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
25
Northeast
View Bowie, MD →
D-
62.8 Score
La Mesa, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$896,209
Population
60,537
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
60
Pacific
View La Mesa, CA →