2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Madison, WI vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Merced older or younger than people in Madison?
- The Median Age in Merced is 1.9 years younger than in Madison.

Are housing costs cheaper in Merced or Madison?
- Merced housing costs are 10.5% more expensive than Madison housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Merced or Madison?
- The average commute for residents of Merced is 4.1 minutes longer than it is for residents of Madison.

Things to do in Madison?
Madison, Wisconsin is a vibrant city with a unique mix of culture and history. Take a stroll through State Street and explore the city's many art galleries, bookstores and some of the best restaurants in the Midwest. Visit University of Wisconsin-Madison for some stunning architecture and inspiring scientific research, or take in an outdoor concert at Breese Stevens Field. With its beautiful lakeshore backdrop, lively farmers markets, and incredible cultural events,Madison is an ideal place to live and visit!

Things to do in Merced?
Merced, California is a mid-sized city located in Central Valley known for its proximity to Yosemite National Park or Lake Yosemite making it an ideal spot for outdoor recreation.

 Madison, WIMerced, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock85,993329,725,481
 Median Income$70,466  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock29.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$337,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock9.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time19.43  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Madison    78 Reviews

Unfortunately, a number of these reviews are politically based. Madison remains the only shining star in Wisconsin’s economy. The economy is broadly based, with  More

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Have been living in Madison for almost 3 years. It’s very safe, ppl generally friendly and for a town of its size it has fair number of good restaurants and interesting  More

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Lacks balance and zero accountability.   More

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Reviews for Merced    44 Reviews

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

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Over 5 years ago

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

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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

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