Huntington Beach, CA vs San Marcos, 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.
Huntington Beach
63.7
#1747 nationally
San Marcos
62.2
#1870 nationally
Huntington Beach leads in walk score (56 vs 33). San Marcos leads in cost of living index (166 vs 195). Huntington Beach leads in median household income ($114,747 vs $99,413).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.7 (#1747) | 62.2 (#1870) |
| Population | 192,129 | 94,188 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,367,647 | $953,736 |
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $99,413 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 26.7 min |
| Walk Score | 56 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 5.7 | 6.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 195 | 166 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+16.8 |
D
63.7 Score
Huntington Beach, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,367,647
Population
192,129
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
56
Pacific
View Huntington Beach, CA →
D-
62.2 Score
San Marcos, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$953,736
Population
94,188
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
33
Pacific
View San Marcos, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Huntington Beach for: