<p>I think Merced will become more safe the more it turns into a college town. From the looks of it…the city itself really doesn’t have a lot going for it and the more UCM grows, the more college students and the more businesses that will pander to college students. Eventually the whole will be geared toward UCM if they meet their goal of 26,000(?) kids.</p>
<p>I am a student of the UC and have lived many years of my life in Merced, and can say that tensions do exist between the UC and Merced community. I’m not sure why that is… most towns would be ecstatic to have a college in their town. I’ve overheard some people say it’s going to attract too many “liberals” and “berkeley hippies” which is totally stupid lol. This town is also very tight-knit, and most people who live here have been here their whole lives. It’s rather a small microcosm, sort of aloof to outsiders. </p>
<p>The campus itself is really nice. Like others have said, try to stay in north Merced, north of G street, Yosemite Ave (NOT Yosemite Pkwy; I live in this area lol), anywhere near the two colleges. Avoid the Loughborough area near target. The person who mentioned the Tioga apartments is not be very honest about the place. Someone in my family lives there and it is a complete dump. The whole building is infested with cockroaches, and the management stinks. Don’t believe me… check out the swarms of bugs on the sidewalks right outside the front door of the building after the dun goes down. There’s lots of shady activity going on in there. The place is actually an inside joke among Mercedians because of its horrid reputation.</p>
<p>Anyways, good luck with your search everyone.</p>
<p>Actually “town and gown” tensions are often common in college towns.</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_and_gown[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_and_gown</a></p>