Merced, CA Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 285,597 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Merced, CA Metro Area

What is the median household income in Merced, CA Metro Area?: The median household income in Merced, CA Metro Area is $65,044 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Merced, CA Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Merced, CA Metro Area is 15.2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Merced, CA Metro Area?: $368,400 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Merced, CA Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Merced, CA Metro Area is $1,284 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Merced, CA Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 14.8% of adults in Merced, CA Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

285,597

Median Income

$65,044

Median Home Value

$368,400

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

10.8%

Median Age

31.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$11,372 (+21.2%) Home Value: +$115,700 (+45.8%) Poverty Rate: -2.0 pp (-11.6%) Bachelor's+: +1.0 pp (+7.2%) Unemployment: -1.1 pp (-9.2%)

Demographics

Total Population 285,597

Median Age 31.0

Female 49.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 62.7% White (non-Hisp.) 24.3% Black 2.9% Asian 7.1% Two or More 12.3% Other 39.9%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

2.1%

Filipino

0.9%

Chinese

0.3%

Korean

0.2%

Vietnamese

0.2%

Japanese

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

59.8%

Puerto Rican

0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $65,044 ±$2,052

Per Capita Income $87,458

Median Family Income $73,010

Poverty Rate 15.2%

Child Poverty Rate 20.8%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 20.7%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 18.4%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

6.0%

$10–15k

3.9%

$15–25k

8.3%

$25–35k

8.4%

$35–50k

11.7%

$50–75k

18.5%

$75–100k

13.8%

$100–150k

15.6%

$150–200k

7.0%

$200k+

6.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 89,610

Owner-Occupied 53.3%

Renter-Occupied 46.7%

Vacancy Rate 5.6%

Median Home Value $368,400

Median Gross Rent $1,284

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 30.4%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 41.1%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

4.0%

$50–100k

2.2%

$100–200k

1.5%

$200–300k

19.6%

$300–500k

49.7%

$500k–$1M

16.6%

$1M+

3.3%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

4.8%

$500–1k

23.2%

$1–1.5k

37.6%

$1.5–2k

23.0%

$2–2.5k

8.4%

$2.5–3.5k

2.2%

$3.5k+

0.8%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

7.2%

1 vehicle

27.5%

2 vehicles

35.6%

29.8%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

74.1%

Single-fam. att.

1.6%

2–4 units

3.0%

5–19 units

4.4%

20+ units

3.0%

Mobile home

6.7%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

4.4%

1940–1969

5.4%

1970–1999

17.0%

2000–2009

19.9%

2010+

6.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 71.9%

Bachelor's or Higher 14.8%

Graduate Degree 4.4%

Some College / Associate 20.9%

Less Than High School 17.2%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 58.9%

Unemployment Rate 10.8%

Work from Home 6.4%

Self-Employed 5.9%

Government Workers 16.5%

Private For-Profit 77.4%

Industry

Edu/Health

21.8%

Retail

10.7%

Manufacturing

10.5%

Agriculture

10.5%

Construction

8.5%

Arts/Entmt.

7.9%

Transportation

7.4%

Prof. Services

6.8%

Public Admin

4.2%

Wholesale

3.4%

Finance

3.0%

Information

0.8%

Occupation

Management

25.5%

Production

19.6%

Construction

18.8%

Sales

18.1%

Food Prep

18.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 31.0 min

Drove Alone 76.8%

Carpool 10.1%

Public Transit 0.4%

Work from Home 6.4%

Walked 2.4%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 84,605

Avg. Household Size 3.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 47.0%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 21.1%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

7.2%

5–9

8.1%

10–14

8.7%

15–19

8.8%

20–24

7.3%

25–34

14.6%

35–44

12.8%

45–54

11.0%

55–64

5.3%

65–74

4.7%

75–84

7.0%

85+

3.3%

Under 18: 29.1% Working age (18–64): 70.9% 65 and over: 11.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 26.1%

Naturalized Citizen 42.1%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 21.0%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

77.0%

Asia

15.6%

Europe

6.0%

Africa

0.6%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 4.0%

With a Disability 12.8%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 91.0%

Uninsured 9.0%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 88.1%

Has a Computer 91.7%

Same House 1 Year Ago 89.1%

Moved from Abroad 0.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023