2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Merced, CA vs Arcata, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Arcata older or younger than people in Merced?
- The Median Age in Arcata is 2.7 years younger than in Merced.

Are housing costs cheaper in Arcata or Merced?
- Arcata housing costs are 19.1% more expensive than Merced housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Arcata or Merced?
- The average commute for residents of Arcata is 6.5 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Merced.

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.

Things to do in Arcata?
Nestled on California’s North Coast just south of Eureka, Arcata offers visitors an array of natural beauty from redwood forests to rugged coastline along with world-class dining experiences like the Alice Copper Restaurant & Brewery. The city hosts a variety of cultural attractions year round from art galleries to live music venues making it a great destination for everyone.

 Merced, CAArcata, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,038329,725,481
 Median Income$52,305  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$373,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time23.56  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Arcata    17 Reviews

Pros: Nature hikes Cons: One of highest crime rates in the nation. Opioid epidemic going on (you’ll regularly witness drug deals and ppl doing drugs) No  More

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It takes a special set of preferences to select Arcata. Is this you? - You love clouds and fog. You are happy if you see the sun maybe 10-20 times a year. - Chilly  More

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Over 11 years ago

I've lived in Humboldt for over 30 yrs and know all the areas well. Arcata is the jewel of Humboldt due to having a university and many liberal creative people. There is  More

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