Merced, CA vs Union City, NJ
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
Union City
67.3
#1446 nationally
Union City leads in crime level (7.4 vs 21.5). Union City leads in walk score (94 vs 42). Merced leads in average commute (27 min vs 33.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Union City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 67.3 (#1446) |
| Population | 93,692 | 64,462 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $576,915 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $59,967 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 33.5 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 94 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 7.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 132 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | D+28.1 |
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+
67.3 Score
Union City, NJ
New Jersey community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$576,915
Population
64,462
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
94
Northeast
View Union City, NJ →