Maple Valley, WA 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.
Maple Valley
65.6
#1623 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Maple Valley leads in crime level (3.0 vs 21.5). Maple Valley leads in median household income ($137,595 vs $59,233). Merced leads in walk score (42 vs 24).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Maple Valley, WA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 65.6 (#1623) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 28,434 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $784,011 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $137,595 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 39.1 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 3.0 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 148 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | R+4.4 |
D
65.6 Score
Maple Valley, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$784,011
Population
28,434
Crime
Low
Walk Score
24
Pacific
View Maple Valley, WA →
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 →