Merced, CA vs Watertown, NY
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
Watertown
77.1
#282 nationally
Watertown leads in average commute (15.6 min vs 27 min). Watertown leads in crime level (16.4 vs 21.5). Watertown leads in walk score (51 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Watertown, NY |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 77.1 (#282) |
| Population | 93,692 | 24,157 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $206,810 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $49,722 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 15.6 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 16.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 100 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | R+23.6 |
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 →
C+
77.1 Score
Watertown, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Median Home
$206,810
Population
24,157
Crime
High
Walk Score
51
Northeast
View Watertown, NY →