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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Merced County

California · 255,793 residents · 1,938.004 sq mi
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Merced County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $43,844. Population has grown 21% since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $241,000. At a median age of 29.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 28% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 29.6
US median: 37.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
255,793
+21%since 2000
from 210,554 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
132 / sq mi
+21%since 2000
from 109 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
29.6
+2%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
167K201K234K268K301K1990201020202024Merced County
2024290K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,844
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,532 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,041
+27%since 2000
from $14,257 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
25.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
21.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 21.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade12.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction11.6%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$241,000
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$798
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $518 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
40.8%
−17.9 ptssince 2000
from 58.7% in 2000
45.5% rent
Vacancy rate
11.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
41.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
5.5
+76%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Merced County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic40.6%(85,585)
Black3.6%(7,594)
Hispanic / Latino45.3%(95,466)
Asian6.7%(14,041)
Other0%
Diversity Score74.2%(156,245)
2010
White, non-Hispanic31.9%(81,599)
Black3.4%(8,785)
Hispanic / Latino54.9%(140,485)
Asian7.1%(18,183)
Other2.3%(5,978)
Diversity Score73.4%(187,805)
Diversity Score
73
−1%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
67.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.6 min
+37%since 2000
from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
75.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
22.7%
−31.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
49.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
24.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
7.3%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Merced County

Ingham County
Pop 289,709
Leon County
Pop 299,048
Winnebago County
Pop 283,674
St. Joseph County
Pop 272,861
Places similar to Merced County
Head to head

Compare Merced County to nearby counties

MERCED COUNTY VS
Stanislaus County
Income$81,468+86%
Home value$450,100+87%
Population557,719+88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED COUNTY VS
San Benito County
Income$114,394+161%
Home value$793,400+229%
Population70,082−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED COUNTY VS
Mariposa County
Income$68,412+56%
Home value$387,900+61%
Population16,918−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED COUNTY VS
Santa Clara County
Income$164,281+275%
Home value$1,490,600+519%
Population1,914,391+544%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Merced County, California?

Merced County, California has about 255,793 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merced County, California?

The typical household in Merced County, California earns about $43,844 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Merced County, California expensive?

In Merced County, California, the median home is worth about $241,000, and the typical rent is about $798 a month.

How educated are people in Merced County, California?

About 12.5% of adults age 25 and over in Merced County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Merced County, California?

About 21.8% of people in Merced County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Merced County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Merced County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 77,390 residents, a change of about 43 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

63 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 23.01Census Tract 10.08Census Tract 5.05Census Tract 17Census Tract 20.02Census Tract 23.03Census Tract 22.04Census Tract 3.05Census Tract 22.01Census Tract 7.02Census Tract 5.04Census Tract 11.01Census Tract 6.03Census Tract 8.01Census Tract 3.01Census Tract 23.05Census Tract 6.01Census Tract 10.07Census Tract 9.04Census Tract 15.03
19 ZIP codes
ZIP 93635ZIP 95301ZIP 95340ZIP 95348ZIP 95341ZIP 95334ZIP 95315ZIP 95388ZIP 93620ZIP 95322ZIP 95324ZIP 95365ZIP 95333ZIP 95374ZIP 95317ZIP 95303ZIP 95369ZIP 95312ZIP 93665
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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