2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Ithaca, NY vs Merced, CA

#1 Emerging Metropolitan Areas

#1 Most Secure Places to Live 2011 (Small Towns)

#2 Best Green Cities

#3 Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S. (Small Towns)

#22 Most Competitive Private Colleges

#79 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#289 Best Green Cities

#328 2005 Best Places to Live

For a small city, its downtown has grown significantly and serves as the hub of the community. The Ithaca Commons remains the central gathering space for locals,  More

Great place to live. Lots to do, vibrant culture, and beautiful scenery. Don't fear the winter--it's even beautiful then. Only complaint is the housing market. Way  More

I was born, raised, educated there (Ithaca High and Cornell). In my opinion, before leaving to pursue my career, it seemed like the most beautiful, clean, low crime,  More

Merced is totally slept on - you want a little bit of everything CA has to offer, at a fraction of the price of other CA cities? Merced is the place to go. The town  More

Good place to live. More affordable than most of california. The city is growing and there is alot of business and growth here. Moved from the Bay area years ago and  More

Great place to live. Lots of progress and changes coming to the city. Great place to raise a family. UC Merced is expanding and businesses are investing. Downtown is  More