United States › California › Merced CITY · 2020 ACS
Merced California · 86,333 residents · 23.3 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 86,333 people, Merced is a city in California. The median age is 30.5, younger than the US median of 38.8. 43% of homes are owner-occupied. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 25.8% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 36% less than in California as a whole.
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 from 27.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
53K 63K 74K 85K 96K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Merced Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $49,973
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,429 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,115 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 27.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Public administration 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.5%
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$251,500
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,032
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 46.5% in 2000
56.7% rent
from 3.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 23.6%(20,386)
Hispanic / Latino 56.3%(48,617)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 68.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 59.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 16.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 44.1%(15,470)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 21.5%(601)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.4%(401)
Share of the 2,790 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
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MERCED VS
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Livingston
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Income $66,514 +33%
Home value $364,000 +45%
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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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