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
median household income $63,122, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Merced
What changed most since 1990
Hispanic share28.9% → 60.1%(+31.3 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree15.8% → 20.2%(+4.4 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
White share49.2% → 21.1%(−28.1 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.4%(506)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.2%(848)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.5%(37)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.3%(7)
US avg: 1%
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
Over time
Merced, decade by decade
Merced population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
56,216
$59,347
$216,726
15.8%
81.2
2000
63,893
$55,431
$187,995
13.6%
83.6
2010
78,958
$52,176
$321,521
15.4%
80.8
2020
86,333
$60,569
$304,828
16.5%
76.6
2024
91,953
$63,122
$372,600
20.2%
72.6
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
