2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Merced, CA vs Walnut Creek, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Walnut Creek, is 132% more than it is in Merced and is 43% above the National Average.
- Merced unemployment rate is 9.3%.
- Walnut Creek unemployment rate is 5.0%.
 Merced, CAWalnut Creek, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.4%1.6%
 Future Job Growth33.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes8.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$22,520  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$121,205$69,021
 Family Median Income$57,892  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Merced, CAWalnut Creek, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock5.3%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K5.0%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock3.6%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K9.4%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock3.9%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.0%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock5.4%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K10.4%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock18.1%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K5.2%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock25.9%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Merced, CAWalnut Creek, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance8.3%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock14.4%6.5%
 Community, social services2.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock3.2%1.2%
 Education, library7.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.1%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology3.6%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock1.4%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement3.2%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock2.8%5.4%
 Building maintenance3.8%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.3%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support18.3%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.1%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair8.7%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock4.0%13.1%
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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Merced

Reviews for Walnut Creek    16 Reviews

Apart from the congestion, Walnut Creek is one of the best places in the San Francisco Bay Area to live. It is one of the most compact/walkable cities in the entire area  More

   |    Reply

Over 7 years ago

Almost all of Walnut Creek water comes from Pardee dam through an enclosed pipeline. That water is direct from the high Sierras. Among the best water quality in the  More

   |    Reply

Over 7 years ago

I grew up in Southern California and am no stranger to a more inland California climate. Before moving to WC I lived in San Francisco for 15 years where it is obviously  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Walnut Creek


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.