Bowie, MD vs Shafter, 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.
Bowie
69.4
#1212 nationally
Shafter
70.7
#1077 nationally
Bowie leads in median household income ($138,797 vs $66,418). Shafter leads in walk score (45 vs 25). Shafter leads in average commute (22 min vs 36.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bowie, MD | Shafter, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1212) | 70.7 (#1077) |
| Population | 57,254 | 21,915 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $526,880 | $387,324 |
| Median Household Income | $138,797 | $66,418 |
| Average Commute | 36.1 min | 22 min |
| Walk Score | 25 | 45 |
| Crime Level | 5.3 | 7.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+75.2 | R+21.1 |
D+
69.4 Score
Bowie, MD
Maryland community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$526,880
Population
57,254
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
25
Northeast
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C-
70.7 Score
Shafter, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$387,324
Population
21,915
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
45
Pacific
View Shafter, CA →