Bakersfield-Delano receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Merced
Bakersfield-Delano
Opportunity
38 · Bottom 16%
vs36 · Bottom 14%
Growth
55 · Top 41%
vs58 · Top 36%
Climate
72 · Top 30%
vs69 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
11 · Bottom 4%
vs15 · Bottom 6%
Housing affordability
57 · Bottom 4%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Access
70 · Bottom 38%
vs92 · Top 20%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 43%
vs41 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Merced | Bakersfield-Delano | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 290,201 | 915,075 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,510 | $70,210 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,030 | $29,699 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 150/sq mi | 112/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $391,800 | $338,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,343 | $1,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.0% | 60.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 9.2% | 8.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 18.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 19.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 537 | 3,215 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 3.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.6% | 5.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 98°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 10.4" | 6.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 56 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 25.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.8 | 32.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Merced
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, heat wave.
Bakersfield-Delano
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Merced
50
Your Score
45
Area Score
Bakersfield-Delano
54
Your Score
49
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Merced, CA Metro Area · Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology