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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Merced

California · 63,893 residents · 23.3 sq mi
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With 63,893 people, Merced is a city in California. The median age is 27.8, younger than the US median of 35.2. 47% of homes are owner-occupied. 27.9% of locals live below the federal poverty line. That trails the California median by roughly 36%. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 27.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 13%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

63,893
+14%since 1990
from 56,216 in 1990
1990 – 2025
27.8
+2%since 1990
from 27.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
23.3 sq mi
Population, 19902024
53K63K74K85K96K19902000201020202024Merced
202492K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59.2%(5,860)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 910.2%(6,487)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.7%(6,187)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 199.3%(5,917)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247.8%(4,967)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.8%(8,845)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.6%(8,682)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.8%(6,908)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.3%(4,019)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.9%(3,106)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.3%(2,117)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.2%(798)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$30,429
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,727 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$13,115
+28%since 1990
from $10,237 in 1990
US average: $21,522
27.9%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 25.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$103,200
−13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $90,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$509
−12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $438 in 1990
US average: $602
46.5%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 44.6% in 1990
53.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic61.9%(34,785)
Black7.3%(4,095)
Hispanic / Latino28.9%(16,228)
Asian14.8%(8,313)
2000
White, non-Hispanic37.8%(24,121)
Black6%(3,864)
Hispanic / Latino41.4%(26,425)
Asian11.2%(7,182)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican56.9%(52,320)
Central American1.3%(1,190)
Salvadoran0.8%(719)
Spaniard0.4%(387)
Puerto Rican0.2%(212)
Nicaraguan0.2%(160)
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
Taiwanese0%(33)
Cambodian0%(15)
Malaysian0%(13)
Nepalese0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.2%(216)
Samoan0.1%(99)
Chamorro0%(35)
Fijian0%(24)
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)
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)
Belgian0%(37)
Armenian0%(34)
Ghanaian0%(33)
Finnish0%(30)
Nigerian0%(26)
Swiss0%(25)
Guyanese0%(18)
Slovene0%(17)
Egyptian0%(16)
Haitian0%(15)
Czech0%(14)
Serbian0%(13)
Brazilian0%(11)
Syrian0%(5)
Section 05

Education

13.6%
−2.2 ptssince 1990
from 15.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
68.5%
−0.7 ptssince 1990
from 69.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.8%
−0.5 ptssince 1990
from 5.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.2 min
+3%since 1990
from 14.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.8%(7,688)
Married53.5%(11,506)
Widowed2.5%(532)
Divorced8.3%(1,776)
Women 15+
Never married27.7%(6,593)
Married49.2%(11,687)
Widowed10.7%(2,553)
Divorced12.4%(2,942)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

7.6%
−9.3 ptssince 2013
from 16.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
40.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 37.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
8.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
12.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 11.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
45.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 47.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
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)
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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Merced, California?

Merced, California has about 63,893 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Merced, California?

The typical household in Merced, California earns about $30,429 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 $103,200, and the typical rent is about $509 a month.

How educated are people in Merced, California?

About 13.6% 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 27.9% 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 7,677 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →