HEAD TO HEAD
Los Angeles vs Merced
Merced leads Los Angeles on 3 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Los Angeles, CA
wins 2 of 5 factors
Merced, CA
wins 3 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Los Angeles | Merced |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 43 | 79 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 26 | 59 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 86 | 87 ◆ |
| Plenty of sunshine | 91 ◆ | 82 |
| Big-city amenities | 100 ◆ | 57 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Los Angeles | Merced |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $969K | $419K |
| Typical rent | $2,909/mo | $1,975/mo |
| Average temperature | 17.4°C | 17.7°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 5.65 kWh/m²/day | 5.35 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #2 | #177 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.