Denton, TX vs Merced, 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.
Denton
72.8
#822 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Denton leads in crime level (5.6 vs 21.5). Merced leads in walk score (42 vs 34). Denton leads in median household income ($71,921 vs $59,233).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Denton, TX | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#822) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 158,349 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $350,224 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 24.7 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 5.6 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+13.2 | R+4.4 |
C-
72.8 Score
Denton, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$350,224
Population
158,349
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
34
Southwest
View Denton, TX →
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 →