Long 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.
Long Beach
62.3
#1863 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Long Beach leads in walk score (67 vs 42). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 142). Long Beach leads in median household income ($69,471 vs $59,233).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.3 (#1863) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 466,742 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $860,012 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $69,471 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 67 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 21.5 |
| School Rating | 5.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 142 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | R+4.4 |
D-
62.3 Score
Long Beach, CA
Aquatic playground of Southern California
Median Home
$860,012
Population
466,742
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Long 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 →