Merced, CA vs Waterbury, CT
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
Waterbury
71.6
#970 nationally
Waterbury leads in crime level (8.8 vs 21.5). Waterbury leads in cost of living index (102 vs 121). Merced leads in median household income ($59,233 vs $51,451).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 71.6 (#970) |
| Population | 93,692 | 114,990 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $287,970 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $51,451 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 27.6 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 8.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 102 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | N/A |
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-
71.6 Score
Waterbury, CT
Mid-size Connecticut city with community character
Median Home
$287,970
Population
114,990
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
46
Northeast
View Waterbury, CT →