La Mesa, CA vs Wake Forest, NC
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
Wake Forest
68.8
#1286 nationally
La Mesa leads in walk score (60 vs 20). Wake Forest leads in crime level (4.0 vs 11.4). Wake Forest leads in cost of living index (116 vs 160).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | La Mesa, CA | Wake Forest, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.8 (#1822) | 68.8 (#1286) |
| Population | 60,537 | 54,337 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $896,209 | $513,720 |
| Median Household Income | $83,649 | $115,159 |
| Average Commute | 25.6 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 60 | 20 |
| Crime Level | 11.4 | 4.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+16.8 | D+25.6 |
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+
68.8 Score
Wake Forest, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$513,720
Population
54,337
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
20
Southeast
View Wake Forest, NC →
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