Mercer Island, WA vs Poway, 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.
Mercer Island
64.9
#1667 nationally
Poway
66.1
#1587 nationally
Mercer Island leads in crime level (1.0 vs 3.7). Poway leads in cost of living index (179 vs 264). Mercer Island leads in median household income ($190,985 vs $135,605).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Mercer Island, WA | Poway, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.9 (#1667) | 66.1 (#1587) |
| Population | 24,742 | 48,051 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $2,295,406 | $1,225,939 |
| Median Household Income | $190,985 | $135,605 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 30 |
| Crime Level | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 264 | 179 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+16.8 |
D
64.9 Score
Mercer Island, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,295,406
Population
24,742
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
33
Pacific
View Mercer Island, WA →
D
66.1 Score
Poway, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,225,939
Population
48,051
Crime
Low
Walk Score
30
Pacific
View Poway, CA →