Merced, CA vs Porterville, 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
Porterville
68.7
#1299 nationally
Porterville leads in crime level (10.5 vs 21.5). Porterville leads in average commute (24 min vs 27 min). Porterville leads in cost of living index (112 vs 121).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Porterville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 68.7 (#1299) |
| Population | 93,692 | 62,876 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $332,442 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $55,785 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 24 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 40 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 10.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | R+20.7 |
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+
68.7 Score
Porterville, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$332,442
Population
62,876
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
40
Pacific
View Porterville, CA →