Merced, CA vs Oroville, 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.
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Oroville
62.6
#1842 nationally
Oroville leads in average commute (20.9 min vs 27 min). Merced leads in median household income ($59,233 vs $46,362). Merced leads in crime level (21.5 vs 26.9).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Oroville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 62.6 (#1842) |
| Population | 93,692 | 19,449 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $310,232 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $46,362 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 20.9 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 26.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 113 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | R+3.1 |
Data coverage note: Oroville is missing data for 1 metric that Merced has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
D-
62.6 Score
Oroville, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$310,232
Population
19,449
Crime
Very High
Median Income
$46,362
Pacific
View Oroville, CA →