Evanston, IL 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.
Evanston
74.7
#562 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Evanston leads in crime level (3.9 vs 21.5). Evanston leads in walk score (76 vs 42). Evanston leads in median household income ($93,188 vs $59,233).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Evanston, IL | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.7 (#562) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 75,070 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $494,604 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $93,188 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 29 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 76 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 3.9 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 131 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+42.0 | R+4.4 |
C
74.7 Score
Evanston, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$494,604
Population
75,070
Crime
Low
Walk Score
76
Midwest
View Evanston, IL →
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 →