2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Merced, CA vs Desert Hot Springs, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Desert Hot Springs older or younger than people in Merced?
- The Median Age in Desert Hot Springs is 5.3 years older than in Merced.

Are housing costs cheaper in Desert Hot Springs or Merced?
- Desert Hot Springs housing costs are 5.1% less expensive than Merced housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Desert Hot Springs or Merced?
- The average commute for residents of Desert Hot Springs is 5.7 minutes longer 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 Desert Hot Springs?
Desert Hot Springs is a small desert town nestled in southern California near Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. Its hot springs provide warmth throughout the year and are thought to have healing properties. Other attractions include world-class golf courses, hiking trails along with shops and restaurants offering everything from classic American cuisine to Mexican favorites!

 Merced, CADesert Hot Springs, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock31,988329,725,481
 Median Income$52,305  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock34.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$373,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock10.9%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 Desert Hot Springs    9 Reviews

lived here 13 years and leaving as soon as possible. crime rate high but getting better. much improved place since 2008. if you buy a house choose the neighborhood and  More

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Over 5 years ago

Love the winters but the summers are too difficult for me. Hot and super windy. However I love the serenity, beautiful mountains, hot springs, and location close to  More

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I am 29 years old and have lived in this city nearly my entire life. When my family moved to this town, there were less than 12,000 people. I've watched it grow a lot.  More

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