Jersey City, NJ 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.
Jersey City
66.9
#1486 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Jersey City leads in walk score (86 vs 42). Jersey City leads in median household income ($87,961 vs $59,233). Merced leads in average commute (27 min vs 35.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.9 (#1486) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 292,449 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $670,166 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $87,961 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 35.8 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 86 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 21.5 |
| School Rating | 5.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+28.1 | R+4.4 |
D
66.9 Score
Jersey City, NJ
Manhattan views without Manhattan prices
Median Home
$670,166
Population
292,449
Crime
Moderate
Schools
C+
Northeast
View Jersey City, NJ →
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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