Lake Forest, 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.
Lake Forest
65.3
#1638 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Lake Forest leads in crime level (4.0 vs 21.5). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($128,358 vs $59,233). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 181).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lake Forest, CA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 65.3 (#1638) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 85,840 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,187,225 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $128,358 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 24.6 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 41 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 4.0 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 181 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+4.4 |
D
65.3 Score
Lake Forest, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,187,225
Population
85,840
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Lake Forest, 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 →
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