Updated: 2025-10-25
Life in Merced County research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Merced County over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Merced County:
The population in Merced County is 285,597.
The median home value in Merced County is $415,874.
The median income in Merced County is $65,044.
The median rent in Merced County is $1,284.
The unemployment rate in Merced County is 10.8%.
The poverty rate in Merced County is 18.4%.
The average high in Merced County is 81.3° and there are 41.5 inches of rainfall annually.
The average high in Merced County is 81.3°.
There are 72.03 nice days each year.
Expect an average of 41.5 inches of rain each year with 0.0 inches of snow.
There is an average of 8:17 hours of sun each day in Merced County.
| Stat | Merced County |
|---|---|
| Mean High | 81.3 |
| Nice Days | 72.03 |
| Rainfall | 41.5 |
| Snowfall | 0.0 |
| Sunny Hours | 8:17 |
The current population in Merced County is 285,597. The population has increased 2.9% from 2019.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 279,150 | 2.0% |
| 2022 | 273,661 | 0.8% |
| 2021 | 271,382 | - |
Merced County is 49.3% female with 140,711 female residents.
Merced County is 50.7% male with 144,886 male residents.
| Gender | Merced County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 49.3% | 50.0% | 50.5% |
| Male | 50.7% | 50.0% | 49.5% |
Merced County is:
24.3% White with 69,294 White residents.
2.7% African American with 7,773 African American residents.
0.2% American Indian with 660 American Indian residents.
7.0% Asian with 19,976 Asian residents.
0.2% Hawaiian with 704 Hawaiian residents.
0.3% Other with 988 Other residents.
2.5% Two Or More with 7,241 Two Or More residents.
62.7% Hispanic with 178,961 Hispanic residents.
| Race | Merced County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 24.3% | 34.6% | 58.2% |
| African American | 2.7% | 5.3% | 12.0% |
| American Indian | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 7.0% | 15.1% | 5.7% |
| Hawaiian | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Two Or More | 2.5% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Hispanic | 62.7% | 39.8% | 19.0% |
6.0% of households in Merced County earn Less than $10,000.
3.9% of households in Merced County earn $10,000 to $14,999.
8.3% of households in Merced County earn $15,000 to $24,999.
8.4% of households in Merced County earn $25,000 to $34,999.
11.7% of households in Merced County earn $35,000 to $49,999.
18.5% of households in Merced County earn $50,000 to $74,999.
13.8% of households in Merced County earn $75,000 to $99,999.
15.6% of households in Merced County earn $100,000 to $149,999.
7.0% of households in Merced County earn $150,000 to $199,999.
6.9% of households in Merced County earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | Merced County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 6.0% | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3.9% | 3.0% | 3.6% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 8.3% | 5.2% | 6.6% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 8.4% | 5.5% | 6.8% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 11.7% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 18.5% | 13.3% | 15.7% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 13.8% | 11.8% | 12.7% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 15.6% | 17.9% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 7.0% | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | 19.4% | 12.6% |
18.0% of adults in Merced County completed < 9th grade.
11.0% of adults in Merced County completed 9-12th grade.
29.0% of adults in Merced County completed high school / ged.
21.0% of adults in Merced County completed some college.
7.0% of adults in Merced County completed associate's degree.
10.0% of adults in Merced County completed bachelor's degree.
3.0% of adults in Merced County completed master's degree.
1.0% of adults in Merced County completed professional degree.
0.0% of adults in Merced County completed doctorate degree.
| Education | Merced County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 17% | 7% | 5% |
| 9-12th Grade | 11% | 7% | 6% |
| High School / GED | 28% | 20% | 26% |
| Some College | 21% | 20% | 19% |
| Associate's Degree | 7% | 8% | 9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10% | 22% | 21% |
| Master's Degree | 3% | 10% | 10% |
| Professional Degree | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Doctorate Degree | 0% | 2% | 2% |
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