Merced County , California
Population: 285,597 residents · 2023 Census ACS
Income $65,044 Home $368,400 Rent $1,284/mo
Page updated: · Data vintage: CDC PLACES 2023 · FEMA NRI v1.20
Across 285,597 residents, Merced County tracks with a mixed cost-and-earnings profile — useful as a comparison anchor for California and neighboring counties alike. FEMA's National Risk Index ranks Merced County in the top 3% nationally for overall natural-hazard exposure, with earthquake risk the dominant local risk.
$65,044
Median Income
household
$368,400
Home Value
median
$1,284/mo
Monthly Rent
median gross
N/A
Unemployment
rate
Income & Housing
| Median Household Income | $65,044 |
| Per Capita Income | $27,711 |
| Poverty Rate | 18.4% |
| Median Home Value | $368,400 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,284/mo |
| Owner Occupied | 53.3% |
| Renter Occupied | 46.7% |
Demographics & Education
| Total Population | 285,597 |
| Median Age | 31.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or Higher | 14.8% |
Health Outcomes
CDC PLACES 2023 · % of adults
34.3%
Obesity
13.0%
Diabetes
14.1%
Smoking
31.8%
High Blood Pressure
33.7%
No Physical Activity
21.5%
Depression
38.7%
Insufficient Sleep
68.9%
Annual Checkup
Natural Hazard Risk
FEMA National Risk Index · county-level scores
Overall risk score: 96.9 · 97th national percentile
🌪️ Tornado
26.24
🔥 Wildfire
92.18
❄️ Winter Storm
19.64
🌍 Earthquake
98.51
☀️ Drought
99.90
Thinking of moving to Merced County?
Use our salary calculator to see what income you'd need to maintain your lifestyle.
Open Cost of Living Calculator →