Burien, WA vs La Mesa, 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.
Burien
64.2
#1708 nationally
La Mesa
62.8
#1822 nationally
La Mesa leads in walk score (60 vs 52). Burien leads in cost of living index (139 vs 160). La Mesa leads in average commute (25.6 min vs 27.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Burien, WA | La Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.2 (#1708) | 62.8 (#1822) |
| Population | 50,730 | 60,537 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $643,360 | $896,209 |
| Median Household Income | $84,583 | $83,649 |
| Average Commute | 27.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 52 | 60 |
| Crime Level | 11.7 | 11.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 139 | 160 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+16.8 |
D
64.2 Score
Burien, WA
Washington community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$643,360
Population
50,730
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
52
Pacific
View Burien, WA →
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 →