Des Moines, WA vs Los Altos, 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.
Des Moines
64.6
#1684 nationally
Los Altos
67.9
#1370 nationally
Los Altos leads in crime level (2.1 vs 8.1). Los Altos leads in median household income ($250,001 vs $81,362). Los Altos leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 30.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Des Moines, WA | Los Altos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.6 (#1684) | 67.9 (#1370) |
| Population | 31,988 | 29,990 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $607,792 | $4,601,729 |
| Median Household Income | $81,362 | $250,001 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 22.8 min |
| Walk Score | 41 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 8.1 | 2.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+40.0 |
D
64.6 Score
Des Moines, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$607,792
Population
31,988
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Des Moines, WA →
D+
67.9 Score
Los Altos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$4,601,729
Population
29,990
Crime
Low
Walk Score
46
Pacific
View Los Altos, CA →
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