Cary, NC 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.
Cary
72.1
#924 nationally
La Mesa
62.8
#1822 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 11.4). La Mesa leads in walk score (60 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $83,649).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | La Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 62.8 (#1822) |
| Population | 180,010 | 60,537 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $896,209 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $83,649 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 60 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 11.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 160 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+16.8 |
C-
72.1 Score
Cary, NC
Mid-size North Carolina city with community character
Median Home
$628,913
Population
180,010
Crime
Low
Walk Score
28
Southeast
View Cary, NC →
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 →