Herndon, VA 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.
Herndon
68.4
#1320 nationally
La Mesa
62.8
#1822 nationally
Herndon leads in crime level (6.6 vs 11.4). Herndon leads in median household income ($133,403 vs $83,649). La Mesa leads in walk score (60 vs 51).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Herndon, VA | La Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.4 (#1320) | 62.8 (#1822) |
| Population | 24,935 | 60,537 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $734,699 | $896,209 |
| Median Household Income | $133,403 | $83,649 |
| Average Commute | 26 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 60 |
| Crime Level | 6.6 | 11.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 145 | 160 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+35.0 | D+16.8 |
D+
68.4 Score
Herndon, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$734,699
Population
24,935
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Northeast
View Herndon, VA →
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 →