Highland Park, 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.
Highland Park
72.8
#827 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Highland Park leads in crime level (1.4 vs 21.5). Highland Park leads in median household income ($159,567 vs $59,233). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 146).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Highland Park, IL | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#827) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 30,272 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $802,430 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $159,567 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 28.8 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 1.4 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 146 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+20.8 | R+4.4 |
C-
72.8 Score
Highland Park, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$802,430
Population
30,272
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
42
Midwest
View Highland Park, 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 →
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