Merced, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,363 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2854.8 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.27% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 28.7 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 20,623 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Merced grew by 15.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 65,066 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Merced has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,909 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.52% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 13.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Merced is about 42% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $291,596 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,261 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 39.9% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Merced is about 19.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,261 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Merced spend about 35 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 145 hours, about 6.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.4 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.8 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 145 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,490 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 10,470 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,676 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Merced is 17 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Merced has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 3.09 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
Merced has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.4 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 24.6% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Merced, California.
What is the population of Merced, California?
The population of Merced, California is 66,363, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Merced, California?
The population density of Merced, California is 2854.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Merced, California?
The median household income in Merced, California is $55,909, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Merced, California?
The median home price in Merced, California is $291,596, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Merced, California?
The unemployment rate in Merced, California is 13.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.