Folsom, CA 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.
Folsom
67.8
#1378 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Folsom leads in crime level (5.0 vs 21.5). Folsom leads in median household income ($134,935 vs $59,233). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 165).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Folsom, CA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.8 (#1378) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 84,782 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $763,818 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $134,935 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 26.1 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 31 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 5.0 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 165 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+19.7 | R+4.4 |
D+
67.8 Score
Folsom, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$763,818
Population
84,782
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
31
Pacific
View Folsom, CA →
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 →