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CITY · 2020 ACS

Merced

California · 86,333 residents · 23.254 sq mi
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The short version

Merced has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $49,973. Population has grown 35% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $251,500. At a median age of 30.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 36% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 30.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
86,333
+35%since 2000
from 63,893 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,713 / sq mi
+35%since 2000
from 2,748 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
30.5
+10%since 2000
from 27.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
53K63K74K85K96K1990201020202024Merced
202492K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,973
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,429 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,518
+64%since 2000
from $13,115 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.2%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
25.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 27.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction8.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade7.7%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$251,500
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,032
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
43.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 46.5% in 2000
56.7% rent
Afford Score
5.0
+48%since 2000
from 3.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Merced on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic37.8%(24,121)
Black6%(3,864)
Hispanic / Latino41.4%(26,425)
Asian11.2%(7,182)
Other0%
Diversity Score80.6%(51,516)
2020
White, non-Hispanic23.6%(20,386)
Black4.9%(4,191)
Hispanic / Latino56.3%(48,617)
Asian10.7%(9,234)
Other3%(2,575)
Diversity Score75%(64,773)
Diversity Score
75
−7%since 2000
from 81 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
73.0%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 68.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.6 min
+81%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
10.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 14.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
59.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 59.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
25.3%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
24.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.0%
−75.1 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

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Compare Merced to nearby cities

MERCED VS
Atwater
Income$64,472+29%
Home value$363,400+44%
Population32,133−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED VS
Winton
Income$57,015+14%
Home value$339,400+35%
Population11,797−88%
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MERCED VS
Livingston
Income$74,494+49%
Home value$372,700+48%
Population14,690−85%
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MERCED VS
Chowchilla
Income$66,514+33%
Home value$364,000+45%
Population18,730−81%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Merced, California?

Merced, California has about 86,333 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merced, California?

The typical household in Merced, California earns about $49,973 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 $251,500, and the typical rent is about $1,032 a month.

How educated are people in Merced, California?

About 16.5% 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 25.8% 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 30,117 residents, a change of about 54 percent over that period.

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

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