Hercules, CA vs Ridgewood, NJ
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.
Hercules
63.3
#1776 nationally
Ridgewood
68
#1362 nationally
Ridgewood leads in crime level (1.2 vs 4.6). Ridgewood leads in median household income ($211,224 vs $125,880). Ridgewood leads in walk score (42 vs 29).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Hercules, CA | Ridgewood, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.3 (#1776) | 68 (#1362) |
| Population | 26,582 | 26,194 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $743,984 | $1,273,036 |
| Median Household Income | $125,880 | $211,224 |
| Average Commute | 40.4 min | 36.3 min |
| Walk Score | 29 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 4.6 | 1.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 171 | 181 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.0 | D+3.4 |
D
63.3 Score
Hercules, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$743,984
Population
26,582
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Hercules, CA →
D+
68 Score
Ridgewood, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,273,036
Population
26,194
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
42
Northeast
View Ridgewood, NJ →