Merced, CA vs Waxhaw, NC
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
Waxhaw
65.9
#1604 nationally
Waxhaw leads in crime level (1.6 vs 21.5). Waxhaw leads in median household income ($124,711 vs $59,233). Merced leads in average commute (27 min vs 31.3 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merced, CA | Waxhaw, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.3 (#1702) | 65.9 (#1604) |
| Population | 93,692 | 23,073 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $397,570 | $717,174 |
| Median Household Income | $59,233 | $124,711 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 31.3 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 21.5 | 1.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 121 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+4.4 | R+25.3 |
Data coverage note: Waxhaw 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
Waxhaw, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$717,174
Population
23,073
Crime
Low
Median Income
$124,711
Southeast
View Waxhaw, NC →