Merced, California Income Statistics
Merced Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Merced Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,646 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,258 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.5% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Merced is about 40% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in Merced (6.5%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Merced earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Merced, California grew by 84.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,646 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.5% per year.
Merced has been far below the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. The gap has narrowed from 37% in 2009 to 26% in 2024, the closest it has been.
Income Distribution in Merced
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 5,203 households (25.1% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 31.6% of households in Merced had an income under $35,000 and 12.0% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Merced has a larger share of households earning under $10,000 (8.0% vs 5.1%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (6.1% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,659 | 8.0% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,210 | 5.8% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,772 | 8.5% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,909 | 9.2% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,589 | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,384 | 16.3% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,998 | 14.5% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 2,708 | 13.1% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 1,238 | 6.0% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 1,257 | 6.1% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 20,723 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 2,928 residents (5.9% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 7.2% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 18.9% of Merced residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 36.0% had some income but less than $25,000, and 11.8% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Merced has a larger share of residents with no personal income (18.9% vs 12.8%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (5.9% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 9,455 | 18.9% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 6,981 | 14.0% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4,707 | 9.4% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 6,304 | 12.6% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 5,380 | 10.8% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 5,775 | 11.6% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,460 | 10.9% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,963 | 5.9% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 2,928 | 5.9% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 49,953 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 18.9% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Merced
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.591 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,789 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,621 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.3% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Merced, it is 0.591, higher than California's 0.572, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 15% more than women's income in Merced, California. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $250,880 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Merced, California has narrowed from about 14% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2012, and was narrowest at 2% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,344 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Merced | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.2% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 3,507 people are unemployed in Merced, California.
The average commute time in Merced is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Merced, California has fallen from 15.2% to 11.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 18.3% in 2014.
Merced has been far above the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2011, its rate was 6.5 points higher. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Merced, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Merced, California.
How Rich Is Merced, California?
Merced has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $59,646, about 40% lower than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in Merced, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Merced, California rose 85%, from $32,310 to $59,646. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +85% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Merced in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Merced, California was $55,910, up 1% from $55,222 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Merced in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Merced, California was $46,134. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $59,646.
Is unemployment high in Merced, California?
Unemployment in Merced, California is 11.9%, well above the California rate of 6.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Merced, California?
The Gini coefficient in Merced is 0.591. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Merced, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Merced, California has narrowed from about 14% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2012, and was narrowest at 2% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,344 since 2009.
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