Huntington Beach, 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.
Huntington Beach
63.7
#1747 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Huntington Beach leads in crime level (5.7 vs 21.5). Huntington Beach leads in median household income ($114,747 vs $59,233). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 195).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.7 (#1747) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 192,129 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,367,647 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 56 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 5.7 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 195 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+4.4 |
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
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 →
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