Your life in Merced County, California

What stands out

What stands out about Merced County: unemployment is among the highest in America (7.7%), high-school completion is among the lowest in America (71%), and the home price against local income is in the top 3% of American counties (4.8 years of income). Within California it ranks 4th of 58 counties for unemployment.

Where you are

You live in Merced County, California. 282,290 people live here with you. The population grew 0.6% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -593).

California's 13.3% top income-tax rate applies only to income above roughly $1 million, and Proposition 13 caps property-tax growth at 2% a year for as long as you own the home, so long-time owners pay far less than new buyers on identical houses. Wildfire risk now drives insurance availability in much of the state, and several major carriers have stopped writing new homeowner policies.

Money

The typical household here brings in $64,772 a year, higher than 62% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $54,952. Unemployment runs 7.7%, higher than almost every county in America. 5% of workers work from home.

California takes 4.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,566 a year.

Home

The median home costs $419K, pricier than 88% of American counties, about 4.8 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,086 a month. Property tax is 0.68% of home value, roughly $2,328 a year on that median home, lower than 68% of American counties. 53% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.3 per 1,000 residents, higher than 73% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 20 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 76.9 years, longer than 63% of American counties. There are 292 active physicians in the county, about 10.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 8.5% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.57 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 95% of American counties. 71% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 4 points. 60% of eligible voters turned out. Under California law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 63°F, highs near 76 and lows near 51, warmer than 78% of American counties. About 12 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 95 out of 100, riskier than 95% of American counties; the county has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 236 Mbps down, faster than 67% of American counties. There are 11 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.4 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery, 4 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• California tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.