Merced, CA vs Paramus, NJ
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
Paramus
67.9
#1371 nationally
Paramus leads in crime level (0.8 vs 21.5). Paramus leads in median household income ($136,824 vs $59,233). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 173).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Paramus, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 67.9 (#1371) |
| Population | 93,692 | 26,282 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $1,086,056 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $136,824 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 31 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 37 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 0.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 173 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | D+3.4 |
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+
67.9 Score
Paramus, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,086,056
Population
26,282
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
37
Northeast
View Paramus, NJ →