Merced, CA vs Sanford, ME
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.
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Sanford
68
#1363 nationally
Sanford leads in crime level (4.3 vs 21.5). Sanford leads in median household income ($71,848 vs $59,233). Sanford leads in cost of living index (103 vs 121).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Sanford, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 68 (#1363) |
| Population | 93,692 | 22,251 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $378,830 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $71,848 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 27.5 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 4.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | D+10.5 |
Data coverage note: Sanford is missing data for 1 metric that Merced has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
D+
68 Score
Sanford, ME
Small Maine city with local appeal
Median Home
$378,830
Population
22,251
Crime
Moderate-Low
Median Income
$71,848
Northeast
View Sanford, ME →