2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Rosa, CA vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Merced older or younger than people in Santa Rosa?
- The Median Age in Merced is 10.4 years younger than in Santa Rosa.

Are housing costs cheaper in Merced or Santa Rosa?
- Merced housing costs are 44.1% less expensive than Santa Rosa housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Merced or Santa Rosa?
- The average commute for residents of Merced is 1.0 minutes longer than it is for residents of Santa Rosa.

Things to do in Santa Rosa?
Santa Rosa, California is situated in the heart of Sonoma County and is known for its laid-back atmosphere and charming downtown area. The city has a vibrant arts community with galleries, studios, and theaters, as well as many wineries throughout the region that offer tours. Outdoor activities abound in the area, such as biking trails, golf courses, and hiking paths to explore. The city also houses a number of restaurants that serve up delicious local dishes. With its stunning scenery and array of activities to enjoy, Santa Rosa is an ideal destination for anyone looking to get away from it all!

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.

 Santa Rosa, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock85,993329,725,481
 Median Income$84,823  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock29.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$666,900  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock9.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time22.59  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Santa Rosa    43 Reviews

I was born and raised here. Santa Rosa used to be a great city great location great weather but now it is overcrowded and crime is off the charts and housing is crazy  More

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I've lived her over 20 years and it's a pretty nice place. The main vibe is you feel safe doing this day or night. Most of the neighborhoods are well taken care of, they  More

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Terrible city that's hurting for money. After going on a long hiatus from enforcing traffic laws, they've recently turned their highways into an ATM machine/cash cow by  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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