Merced, CA vs Watsonville, 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.
Merced
64.3
#1702 nationally
Watsonville
63.3
#1786 nationally
Watsonville leads in crime level (10.9 vs 21.5). Watsonville leads in walk score (69 vs 42). Merced leads in cost of living index (121 vs 152).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Watsonville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 63.3 (#1786) |
| Population | 93,692 | 50,867 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $828,739 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $72,295 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 26.3 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 69 |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 10.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 152 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | D+54.4 |
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
63.3 Score
Watsonville, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$828,739
Population
50,867
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
69
Pacific
View Watsonville, CA →