La Mesa, CA vs San Carlos, 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
San Carlos
66.8
#1504 nationally
San Carlos leads in median household income ($219,413 vs $83,649). San Carlos leads in crime level (5.8 vs 11.4). La Mesa leads in walk score (60 vs 47).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | La Mesa, CA | San Carlos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.8 (#1822) | 66.8 (#1504) |
| Population | 60,537 | 28,862 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $896,209 | $2,457,746 |
| Median Household Income | $83,649 | $219,413 |
| Average Commute | 25.6 min | 26.5 min |
| Walk Score | 60 | 47 |
| Crime Level | 11.4 | 5.8 |
| 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+50.3 |
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
66.8 Score
San Carlos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,457,746
Population
28,862
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
47
Pacific
View San Carlos, CA →
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