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

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Highlights
Are people in Merced older or younger than people in Ridgecrest?
- The Median Age in Merced is 7.0 years younger than in Ridgecrest.

Are housing costs cheaper in Merced or Ridgecrest?
- Merced housing costs are 51.9% more expensive than Ridgecrest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Merced or Ridgecrest?
- The average commute for residents of Merced is 0.1 minutes longer than it is for residents of Ridgecrest.

Things to do in Ridgecrest?
Located in the Indian Wells Valley of the Mojave Desert, Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County known for its rich cultural and recreational activities. With a population of over 27,000, this growing city offers attractions such as the desert landscape and nearby mountains, along with local events and recreation opportunities.

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.

 Ridgecrest, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock85,993329,725,481
 Median Income$77,534  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock29.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$245,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock9.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time23.43  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Ridgecrest    7 Reviews

For context, I grew up in Ridgecrest and moved away after graduating high school. I have since lived in LA and the Bay Area but I visit RC often. RC is in the high  More

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Ridgecrest and Kern County are red state bastions in a land of blue voting counties. If you want a concealed weapons permit, you'll get it. Want to own any firearm  More

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Over 13 years ago

The hardest thing to get used to in Ridgecrest is the weather. It can get quite windy. And hot. 115 hot. But it's a dry heat! It does cool off in the evening, and it  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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