Merced, CA vs Sweetwater, FL
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
Sweetwater
65.9
#1603 nationally
Sweetwater leads in crime level (2.8 vs 21.5). Sweetwater leads in cost of living index (107 vs 121). Merced leads in median household income ($59,233 vs $53,159).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Sweetwater, FL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 65.9 (#1603) |
| Population | 93,692 | 20,352 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $448,534 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $53,159 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 27.9 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 2.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 107 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | R+11.4 |
Data coverage note: Sweetwater 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
65.9 Score
Sweetwater, FL
Small Florida city with local appeal
Median Home
$448,534
Population
20,352
Crime
Low
Median Income
$53,159
Southeast
View Sweetwater, FL →