United States › Merced METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS
Merced Metro Merced, CA · 1 counties · 178,403 residents · 1,938 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Merced is home to 178,403 people. The median age is 28.1, younger than the US median of 33.0. 54% of homes are owner-occupied. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 19.9% of people across the metro live below the federal poverty line. There are 32,151 fewer people here than in 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 28.1
US median: 33.0
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 29.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
167K 201K 234K 268K 301K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Merced Age distribution, 1990
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Section 02
Income & economy $25,548
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $35,532 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $14,257 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 21.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$90,100
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $110,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$430
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $518 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 58.7% in 2000
45.6% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 40.6%(85,585)
Hispanic / Latino 45.3%(95,466)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 67.5%(120,456)
Hispanic / Latino 32%(57,139)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data vs 11.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 63.8% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 3.4% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 39.2%(43,044)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 19.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 40.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 9.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 42.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 49.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 51.4% 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) 24.8%(1,849)
Gulf War (1990s) 21%(1,564)
Share of the 7,464 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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In this metro
Largest cities MercedCENTRAL 99,724 Los Banos 49,614 Atwater 32,133 Livingston 14,690 Winton 11,797 Delhi 11,009 Franklin CDP (Merced County) 7,392 Hilmar-Irwin 6,132 Gustine 6,112 McSwain 5,783 Dos Palos 5,697 Planada 3,506 Santa Nella 2,107 Le Grand 1,636 South Dos Palos 1,102 University of California-Merced 724 El Nido 510 Ballico 447 Cressey 386 Bear Creek 346 Dos Palos Y 273 Volta 268 Snelling 243 Stevinson 144 Tuttle 73 What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Merced, CA? Merced, CA has about 178,403 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Merced, CA? The typical household in Merced, CA earns about $25,548 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Merced, CA expensive? In Merced, CA, the median home is worth about $90,100, and the typical rent is about $430 a month.
How educated are people in Merced, CA? About 12.0% of adults age 25 and over in Merced, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Merced, CA? About 19.9% of people in Merced, CA live below the federal poverty line.
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