Merced, CA vs Naperville, IL
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.
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Naperville leads in median household income ($150,937 vs $59,233). Naperville leads in crime level (9.3 vs 21.5). Naperville leads in walk score (46 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 75.7 (#429) |
| Population | 93,692 | 149,424 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $629,473 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $150,937 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 9.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | D+13.3 |
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 →
C
75.7 Score
Naperville, IL
Where families thrive and communities flourish
Median Home
$629,473
Population
149,424
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Midwest
View Naperville, IL →