Mountain View, CA vs Palm Desert, 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.
Mountain View
63.3
#1779 nationally
Palm Desert
66
#1595 nationally
Mountain View leads in walk score (66 vs 28). Mountain View leads in median household income ($174,156 vs $75,691). Palm Desert leads in cost of living index (136 vs 285).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Mountain View, CA | Palm Desert, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.3 (#1779) | 66 (#1595) |
| Population | 81,785 | 51,951 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,962,774 | $544,379 |
| Median Household Income | $174,156 | $75,691 |
| Average Commute | 24.2 min | 22.4 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | 28 |
| Crime Level | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 285 | 136 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | R+1.3 |
D
63.3 Score
Mountain View, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,962,774
Population
81,785
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
66
Pacific
View Mountain View, CA →
D
66 Score
Palm Desert, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$544,379
Population
51,951
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
28
Pacific
View Palm Desert, CA →
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