2025 Compare Cities Overview:
West Lafayette, IN vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Merced older or younger than people in West Lafayette?
- The Median Age in Merced is 8.1 years older than in West Lafayette.

Are housing costs cheaper in Merced or West Lafayette?
- Merced housing costs are 21.9% more expensive than West Lafayette housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Merced or West Lafayette?
- The average commute for residents of Merced is 7.9 minutes longer than it is for residents of West Lafayette.

Things to do in West Lafayette?
West Lafayette, IN is a vibrant city located in Tippecanoe County in north-central Indiana. Home to Purdue University, the community of West Lafayette offers its residents access to world-class education facilities and a thriving economy. The area features several parks and recreational areas perfect for outdoor activities such as biking along the Wabash River or playing baseball at Howard Park. Residents also appreciate being surrounded by a variety of restaurants, unique shops, art galleries and other amenities that make living here so enjoyable. Whether you’re looking to explore nature’s beauty or just want to experience a lively college town atmosphere, West Lafayette is sure to please!

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.

 West Lafayette, INMerced, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock85,993329,725,481
 Median Income$28,744  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock29.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$306,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock9.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.63  Unlock26.38
Reviews for West Lafayette    11 Reviews

I am originally from Greencastle, Indiana, a nice friendly rural town and home to DePauw University. Presently, I live in West Lafayette, Indiana, due to my having been  More

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Over 11 years ago

It's a nice small town. It's too bad it's not closer to Indy. I think I would like it here  More

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Over 14 years ago

They have good schools, parks and always have events to  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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