United States › California › Merced CITY · 2010 ACS
Merced California · 78,958 residents · 23.3 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 78,958 people, Merced is a city in California. The median age is 28.1, younger than the US median of 37.2. 43% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 40% less than in California as a whole. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 28% national rate. 26.2% of locals live below the federal poverty line.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 28.1
US median: 37.2
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 27.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
53K 63K 74K 85K 96K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Merced Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $36,269
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,429 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $13,115 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 27.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.3%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.1%
Education & health services 0.8%
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$223,500
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,200 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$775
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $853
from 46.5% in 2000
57.3% rent
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 3.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 36.5% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 56.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 7.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 37.8%(24,121)
Hispanic / Latino 41.4%(26,425)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 30%(23,702)
Hispanic / Latino 49.6%(39,140)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 68.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 44.1%(15,470)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 16.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 11.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 47.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 45.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
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)
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Merced Head to head
Compare Merced to nearby cities MERCED VS
Atwater
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MERCED VS
Winton
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Home value $339,400 +52%
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Livingston
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Income $66,514 +83%
Home value $364,000 +63%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Merced, California? Merced, California has about 78,958 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Merced, California? The typical household in Merced, California earns about $36,269 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 $223,500, and the typical rent is about $775 a month.
How educated are people in Merced, California? About 15.4% 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 26.2% 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 22,742 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.
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