United States › Merced METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS
Merced Metro Merced, CA · 1 counties · 210,554 residents · 1,938 sq mi
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The short version
Merced is home to 210,554 people. The median age is 29.0, younger than the US median of 35.2. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. 21.7% of people across the metro live below the federal poverty line. 59% of homes are owner-occupied. Growth has run 18% since 1990, or 32,151 more people.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 29.0
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth 109 / sq mi
+18%since 1990
from 92 / sq mi in 1990
from 28.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
167K 201K 234K 268K 301K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Merced Age distribution, 2000
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Section 02
Income & economy $35,532
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,548 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $10,606 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 19.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$110,900
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $90,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$518
−9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $430 in 1990
US average: $602
from 54.4% in 1990
41.3% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 67.5%(120,456)
Hispanic / Latino 32%(57,139)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 40.6%(85,585)
Hispanic / Latino 45.3%(95,466)
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 from 12.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 63.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 3.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 31.4%(23,003)
Women 15+
Never married 24.3%(18,554)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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 210,554 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Merced, CA? The typical household in Merced, CA earns about $35,532 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 $110,900, and the typical rent is about $518 a month.
How educated are people in Merced, CA? About 11.0% 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 21.7% of people in Merced, CA live below the federal poverty line.
Has Merced, CA grown since 1990? Yes, Merced, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 32,151 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.
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