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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Merced County

California · 281,202 residents · 1,938.004 sq mi
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The short version

Merced County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $56,330. Population has grown 34% since 2000. 14% 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 $268,800. At a median age of 32.0, 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: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 61%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
281,202
+34%since 2000
from 210,554 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
145 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 109 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
32.0
+10%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
167K201K234K268K301K1990201020202024Merced County
2024290K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,330
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,532 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,677
+66%since 2000
from $14,257 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
35.4%
+10.2 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 21.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction11.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Information11.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$268,800
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,054
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $518 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
54.7%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 58.7% in 2000
45.3% rent
Afford Score
4.8
+53%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic24.4%(68,729)
Black2.9%(8,191)
Hispanic / Latino61.8%(173,857)
Asian7%(19,824)
Other2.7%(7,478)
Diversity Score67.7%(190,288)
Segregation Score29.6%(83,269)
Diversity Score
68
−9%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
69.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 63.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.9 min
+54%since 2000
from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.3%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 15.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
59.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 60.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
23.7%
−30.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
26.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.0%
−72.8 ptssince 2013
from 80.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+45%
Home value$450,100+67%
Population557,719+88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED COUNTY VS
San Benito County
Income$114,394+103%
Home value$793,400+195%
Population70,082−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED COUNTY VS
Mariposa County
Income$68,412+21%
Home value$387,900+44%
Population16,918−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCED COUNTY VS
Santa Clara County
Income$164,281+192%
Home value$1,490,600+455%
Population1,914,391+544%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Merced County, California?

Merced County, California has about 281,202 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Merced County, California earns about $56,330 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 $268,800, and the typical rent is about $1,054 a month.

How educated are people in Merced County, California?

About 14.1% 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 18.8% 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 102,799 residents, a change of about 58 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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