Merced County, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 290,201 Household income: $65,510 Rent: $1,343

Overview

Total population

290,201

Rent

$1,343

Year built

1986

Household income

$65,510

Per capita income

$28,030

Poverty rate

19.1%

Unemployment rate

9.8%

Household size

3.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

290,201

Adults over 25

174,127

Total households

86,055

Household size

3.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$65,510

Per capita income

$28,030

Poverty rate

19.1%

Unemployment rate

9.8%

Rent over 30% of income

46.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,343

Year built

1986

Households that rent

46%

Households that own

54%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

31.5%

Black

2.8%

Asian

7.2%

Two or more races

15.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

63.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

36.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

93.4%

Commute time to work

31 mins

Work from home

6.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

42.6%

High school graduate or GED

29.7%

Some college or associate degree

12.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

15.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Merced County, CA with: California United States

Merced County, CA

Total population290,201

Rent$1,343

Year built1986

Household income$65,510

Per capita income$28,030

Poverty rate19.1%

Unemployment rate9.8%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyMerced County, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	290,201	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$1,343	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1986	1976	1980
Household income	$65,510	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,030	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	19.1%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	9.8%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Merced County, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Merced County, CA

Merced County is located in California .

Rent & Income

In Merced County, the monthly rent is $1,343 and household income is $65,510. Rent is lower than California and similar to the U.S., and household income is lower than both California and the U.S. The poverty rate is 19.1%, which is higher than both California and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 46% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 46.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is relatively low, with about 15.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 9.8%, which is higher than both California and the national rate.

Merced County, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Merced County, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Merced County, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,343 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Merced County, CA

Annual Household Income: $65,510

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Merced County, CA

Estimated Rate: 19.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Merced County, CA

In Merced County, CA, households that rent: 39,581 (46%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	39,581	46%
Owner-Occupied	46,474	54%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Merced County, CA

In Merced County, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 18,577 (46.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	18,577	46.9%
Other renter households	21,004	53.1%
Total renter households	39,581	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Merced County, CA

Less than High School: 74,129 people (42.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 51,662 people (29.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 21,639 people (12.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 26,697 people (15.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 174,127

📊 Unemployment Rate in Merced County, CA

Estimated Rate: 9.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.