Hartford, CT 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.
Hartford
74.7
#564 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Hartford leads in walk score (68 vs 42). Merced leads in median household income ($59,233 vs $38,891). Hartford leads in cost of living index (101 vs 121).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.7 (#564) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 121,054 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $203,328 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $38,891 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 23.4 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 42 |
| Crime Level | High | 21.5 |
| School Rating | 3.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | N/A | R+4.4 |
C
74.7 Score
Hartford, CT
Insurance capital with historic charm
Median Home
$203,328
Population
121,054
Crime
High
Schools
C-
Northeast
View Hartford, CT →
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 →