Medford, MA 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.
Medford
67.7
#1394 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Medford leads in crime level (4.9 vs 21.5). Medford leads in median household income ($114,863 vs $59,233). Medford leads in walk score (68 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Medford, MA | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.7 (#1394) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 58,744 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $842,743 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $114,863 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 31.4 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 4.9 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 161 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.5 | R+4.4 |
D+
67.7 Score
Medford, MA
Massachusetts community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$842,743
Population
58,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
68
Northeast
View Medford, MA →
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 →