Dc-magnetization, x-ray diffraction, and Raman-scattering studies in polycrystalline (La 1Ϫy Nd y) 1Ϫx Ca x MnO 3 (yϭ0.0,0.5,1.0, and xϭ1/3) samples are presented. The samples with yϭ0.5 and 1.0 show complex magnetic states at low temperatures, with a ferromagnetic coupling strength that weakens with increasing y. X-ray measurements show a single crystallographic phase at all temperatures for yϭ0.5, with lattice parameter anomalies at temperatures related to electronic and magnetic transitions. The presence of high-frequency vibrational modes in Raman-scattering measurements indicates the existence of charge-and orbital-ordered domains for yϭ0.5 and 1.0, which are closely related to the antiferromagnetic component identified by the magnetization experiments. The close relationship between results obtained by magnetic, structural, and optical probes is discussed.