Berkeley, CA vs Merced, 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.
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Berkeley leads in walk score (85 vs 42). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 222). Berkeley leads in median household income ($104,716 vs $59,233).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 59.6 (#1947) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 118,962 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,460,437 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 85 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 222 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | R+4.4 |
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
D
64.3 Score
Merced, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$397,570
Population
93,692
Crime
High
Walk Score
42
Pacific
View Merced, CA →