Mesa, AZ vs Sunnyvale, 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.
Mesa
67
#1475 nationally
Sunnyvale
66.4
#1551 nationally
Sunnyvale leads in median household income ($168,924 vs $73,766). Mesa leads in cost of living index (112 vs 205). Sunnyvale leads in walk score (54 vs 38).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67 (#1475) | 66.4 (#1551) |
| Population | 511,648 | 155,805 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $433,754 | $2,050,814 |
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $168,924 |
| Average Commute | 24.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 54 |
| Crime Level | 13.2 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 8.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+3.5 | D+40.0 |
D+
67 Score
Mesa, AZ
Major Arizona city with a diverse economy
Median Home
$433,754
Population
511,648
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
38
Southwest
View Mesa, AZ →
D
66.4 Score
Sunnyvale, CA
Heart of tech innovation
Median Home
$2,050,814
Population
155,805
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Pacific
View Sunnyvale, CA →