La Mesa, CA vs Manhattan 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
Manhattan Beach
66.5
#1537 nationally
Manhattan Beach leads in crime level (4.1 vs 11.4). Manhattan Beach leads in median household income ($187,217 vs $83,649). La Mesa leads in average commute (25.6 min vs 31.3 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | La Mesa, CA | Manhattan Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.8 (#1822) | 66.5 (#1537) |
| Population | 60,537 | 33,369 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $896,209 | $3,321,616 |
| Median Household Income | $83,649 | $187,217 |
| Average Commute | 25.6 min | 31.3 min |
| Walk Score | 60 | 73 |
| Crime Level | 11.4 | 4.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | N/A |
| 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
66.5 Score
Manhattan Beach, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$3,321,616
Population
33,369
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
73
Pacific
View Manhattan Beach, CA →
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