Merced vs St. George
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $372,600 in Merced and $496,100 in St. George.
- Households earn more in St. George ($76,508 vs $63,122 median).
- St. George has more scorching days: 128 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 100.
- St. George is growing faster: +14% since 2020 vs +11%.
- Commutes are shorter in St. George (17 vs 29 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Merced, CA | St. George, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 99,724 | 108,713 |
| Growth since 2020 | +11% | +14% |
| People per square mile | 4,290 | 1,405 |
| Median age | 30.0 | 38.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20% | 37% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $63,122 | $76,508 |
| Median home value | $372,600 | $496,100 |
| Home value to income | 5.9× | 6.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,393 | $1,545 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.3 | 97.3 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 78.6 | 98.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,700 | $73,000 |
| Homeowners | 46% | 67% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 4.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 7.42% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 28.6 | 17.2 |
| Work from home | 8% | 14% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 11.3% | 3.6% |
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 11.4% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 56° / 37° | 54° / 28° |
| July high / low | 96° / 62° | 102° / 72° |
| Precipitation per year | 12 in | 9 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 1 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 100 | 128 |
| Nights below freezing | 28 | 62 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.9 | 92.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 51% | 75% |
| Home prices, past year | +0% | -0.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +26.4% | +29.6% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Merced: March to May and October. St. George: April to May and October.
Full monthly tables: Merced weather by month and St. George weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,700 in Merced and $73,000 in St. George. Moving from Merced to St. George, you would need about $74,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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