At a Glance
Median Income
$59,938
$26,140 per capita
Home Value
$347,700
Zillow: $393,170
Median Rent
$1,293/mo
32.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
644/100K
2,793/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
18.0%
77.2% high school+
Unemployment
7.6%
18.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.6%
15.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
63°F
327 sunny days/yr
How Merced Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Merced's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Merced a Good Place to Live?
C
2.4 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Merced residents earn a median household income of $59,938 , which is 20% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,140. The unemployment rate stands at 7.6% (111% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 18.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 8,584 business establishments, including 403 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Merced is $347,700 , 23% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $393,170. Median rent is $1,293/month, with 32.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1982.
Safety & Crime
Merced reports 644 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 69% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,793/100K. The murder rate is 6.0/100K.
Education
18.0% of adults in Merced hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(47% below the national average).
77.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Merced has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 85°F in July. The area gets 327 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 26.7 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 52.
Data Overview
People
Population89,766
Median Age29.8 yrs
Density3,861/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.0%
Economy
C+
Median Income$59,938
Per Capita$26,140
Unemployment7.6%
Poverty18.6%
County GDP$13,282M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,057
Housing
B
Home Value$347,700
Rent$1,293
Ownership44.4%
Zillow$393,170
Housing Units28,767
Rent Burden32.0%
Crime
F
Violent644/100K
Property2,793/100K
Murder6.0/100K
Assault475/100K
Burglary472/100K
Health
Obesity34.6%
Diabetes13.7%
Smoking15.2%
Heart Disease6.4%
Premature Death8,849/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Sunny Days327/yr
Rain26.7 in/yr
AQI52 (Moderate)
Elevation187 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.0%
High School+77.2%
Graduate+6.0%
School Score4.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 51% / D 47%
Commute27 min
Broadband93.6%
Internet Speed78 Mbps
EV Stations15
Libraries13
Did You Know?
Merced was founded in 1889.
The median home in Merced was built in 1982.
The nearest airport is Merced Yosemite Regional (1 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.458 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
13.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 403 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 62 fatal vehicle crashes.
All Countries
