Melbourne, FL 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.
Melbourne
69.9
#1158 nationally
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Melbourne leads in crime level (7.6 vs 21.5). Merced leads in walk score (42 vs 33). Melbourne leads in average commute (22.5 min vs 27 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Melbourne, FL | Merced, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.9 (#1158) | 64.3 (#1702) |
| Population | 86,960 | 93,692 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $360,012 | $397,570 |
| Median Household Income | $60,917 | $59,233 |
| Average Commute | 22.5 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 7.6 | 21.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 121 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+20.8 | R+4.4 |
D+
69.9 Score
Melbourne, FL
Florida community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$360,012
Population
86,960
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
33
Southeast
View Melbourne, FL →
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 →