CITY
Merced
California · 99,724 residents (2025 est.) · 23.3 sq mi
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The short version
Merced is a city of 91,953 people in California. The median age is 30.0, younger than the US median of 38.9. 46% of homes are owner-occupied. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 28,060 more people live here than in 2000. That trails the California median by roughly 36%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 98%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
91,953
+44%since 2000
from 63,893 in 2000
99,724 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Land area
23.3 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
202492K
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.7%(7,112)
5 to 98%(7,374)
10 to 148.8%(8,078)
15 to 199.1%(8,392)
20 to 247.9%(7,238)
25 to 3416.8%(15,404)
35 to 4412%(11,034)
45 to 549.9%(9,082)
55 to 649.5%(8,694)
65 to 746.3%(5,819)
75 to 843%(2,762)
85 and over1%(964)
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy
$63,122
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,429 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Households earning $100K+
43.3%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.5%
Wholesale trade7.4%
Retail trade7.3%
Finance & insurance7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.7%
Construction6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical6.5%
Other services3.6%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
Public administration2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
Education & health services0.5%
Manufacturing0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
$372,600
+98%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
5.9
−21%since 2009
from 7.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
59
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2000
White, non-Hispanic37.8%(24,121)
Black6%(3,864)
Hispanic / Latino41.4%(26,425)
Asian11.2%(7,182)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic21.1%(19,362)
Black4.6%(4,230)
Hispanic / Latino60.1%(55,300)
Asian9.4%(8,681)
Other4.8%(4,380)
73
−10%since 2009
from 81 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry
Hispanic origin
Mexican56.9%(52,320)
Central American1.3%(1,190)
Salvadoran0.8%(719)
Spaniard0.4%(387)
Puerto Rican0.2%(212)
Nicaraguan0.2%(160)
South American0.1%(133)
Costa Rican0.1%(107)
Guatemalan0.1%(86)
Peruvian0.1%(79)
Honduran0.1%(67)
Cuban0.1%(66)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Hmong3.2%(2,956)
Asian Indian1.8%(1,692)
Filipino1.3%(1,188)
Mien0.7%(633)
Chinese0.7%(604)
Laotian0.4%(325)
Korean0.3%(296)
Vietnamese0.2%(189)
Japanese0.2%(155)
Kazakh0.1%(118)
Thai0.1%(76)
Pakistani0.1%(54)
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Native Hawaiian0.5%(437)
Tongan0.2%(216)
Samoan0.1%(99)
Chamorro0%(35)
Fijian0%(24)
Marshallese0%(13)
Ancestry
German5%(4,569)
English4%(3,643)
Irish3.4%(3,121)
Italian2.4%(2,239)
Portuguese2%(1,812)
American1.5%(1,338)
French1.1%(1,051)
Scottish0.7%(619)
Arab0.5%(487)
Subsaharan African0.5%(451)
Dutch0.4%(399)
Danish0.4%(346)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.4%(328)
Polish0.3%(289)
Russian0.3%(253)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(249)
Welsh0.2%(160)
British0.2%(157)
Australian0.2%(156)
Swedish0.2%(146)
Greek0.1%(80)
Canadian0.1%(73)
Ukrainian0.1%(72)
Iraqi0.1%(70)
Hungarian0.1%(67)
Bulgarian0.1%(61)
Croatian0.1%(61)
Iranian0.1%(54)
Lebanese0%(41)
French Canadian0%(41)
Belgian0%(37)
Armenian0%(34)
Ghanaian0%(33)
Finnish0%(30)
Nigerian0%(26)
Swiss0%(25)
Guyanese0%(18)
Slovene0%(17)
Egyptian0%(16)
West Indian0%(15)
Haitian0%(15)
Czech0%(14)
Serbian0%(13)
Brazilian0%(11)
Lithuanian0%(10)
Austrian0%(7)
Syrian0%(5)
Section 05
Education
High school or higher
76.9%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 68.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Section 07
Work & employment
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.5%
+6.9 ptssince 2020
from 60.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Section 08
People & community
Computer in household
95.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
from 92.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married50%(17,121)
Married39.4%(13,514)
Widowed2.7%(927)
Divorced7.9%(2,708)
Women 15+
Never married44.1%(15,470)
Married36.3%(12,747)
Widowed7.6%(2,679)
Divorced12%(4,223)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage
Direct-purchase
8.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
VA health care
1.3%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
48.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 45.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
52.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 55.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)28.4%(704)
Gulf War (1990s)20.4%(506)
Vietnam era34.2%(848)
Korean War1.5%(37)
World War II0.3%(7)
Share of the 2,476 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Merced, California?
Merced, California has about 91,953 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Merced, California?
The typical household in Merced, California earns about $63,122 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Merced, California expensive?
In Merced, California, the median home is worth about $372,600, and the typical rent is about $1,393 a month.
How educated are people in Merced, California?
About 20.2% of adults age 25 and over in Merced, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Merced, California?
About 23.9% of people in Merced, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Merced, California grown since 1990?
Yes, Merced, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 35,737 residents, a change of about 64 percent over that period.
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CaliforniaDATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024