La Mesa, CA vs Long Beach, 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.
La Mesa
62.8
#1822 nationally
Long Beach
62.3
#1863 nationally
La Mesa leads in median household income ($83,649 vs $69,471). Long Beach leads in cost of living index (142 vs 160). Long Beach leads in walk score (67 vs 60).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | La Mesa, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.8 (#1822) | 62.3 (#1863) |
| Population | 60,537 | 466,742 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $896,209 | $860,012 |
| Median Household Income | $83,649 | $69,471 |
| Average Commute | 25.6 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 60 | 67 |
| Crime Level | 11.4 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | 142 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+16.8 | D+32.9 |
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 →
D-
62.3 Score
Long Beach, CA
Aquatic playground of Southern California
Median Home
$860,012
Population
466,742
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Long Beach, CA →