1st Advantage MortgageMerced County households have a median income of $65,510 and median rent of $1,343 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Merced County
- What Merced County households earn
- How Merced County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Merced County
- Merced County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Merced County
- Merced County households compared
- Reading the Merced County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Merced County median
- Who licenses lenders for Merced County residents
- Checklist for Merced County applicants
- More guides for Merced County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Merced County
With an estimated 290,201 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Merced County ranks 23rd of 58 in California for population. Land area is 1,938 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 150 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Merced, CA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (6 incorporated, 19 census-designated); the largest is Merced, with about 91,953 residents, or 32% of the county.
What Merced County households earn
Merced County households have a median income of $65,510 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 50th of 58 in California.
| Household income | Merced County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.8% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +10.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -13.3 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. 19.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.465 here. None of these numbers decides a Merced County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Merced County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Merced County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Compared with California, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (10% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 10.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Merced County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.2% | +8.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Merced County
A typical Merced County rental runs $1,343 a month including utilities, which is 34% below California. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $391,800, a typical Merced County house costs 6.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 54% of Merced County households own their home and 46% rent. The median year built is 1986.
| Home costs | Merced County | California | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,343/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $391,800 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 54% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 38% | n/a |
With renters making up 46% of households, many Merced County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Merced County next to its neighbors
Stanislaus County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, San Joaquin County, is 59 miles off. Santa Clara County leads the group on income ($164,281), Mariposa County trails ($68,412), and Merced County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced County | - | $65,510 | $1,343/mo | 54% |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 30 mi | $81,468 | $1,623/mo | 61% |
| San Benito County, CA | 45 mi | $114,394 | $1,992/mo | 68% |
| Mariposa County, CA | 52 mi | $68,412 | $1,305/mo | 75% |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 53 mi | $164,281 | $2,857/mo | 55% |
| Madera County, CA | 54 mi | $76,627 | $1,390/mo | 67% |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 59 mi | $92,179 | $1,734/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Merced County
25 Census places fall mainly inside Merced County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 252,090 residents, leaving about 13% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. McSwain has the highest median household income on the list ($139,131) and Dos Palos the lowest ($42,367), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Le Grand ($866) and steepest in South Dos Palos ($1,585). No Merced County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 25.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | city | 91,953 | $63,122 | $1,393 | 15 mi |
| Los Banos | city | 47,593 | $68,171 | $1,557 | 11 mi |
| Atwater | city | 32,162 | $64,472 | $1,279 | 13 mi |
| Livingston | city | 14,606 | $74,494 | $1,315 | 13 mi |
| Winton | CDP | 11,797 | $57,015 | $1,156 | 14 mi |
| Delhi | CDP | 11,009 | $67,500 | $1,274 | 17 mi |
| Franklin | CDP | 7,392 | $58,295 | $1,399 | 14 mi |
| Gustine | city | 6,133 | $59,532 | $1,395 | 16 mi |
| Hilmar-Irwin | CDP | 6,132 | $79,948 | $1,536 | 16 mi |
| McSwain | CDP | 5,783 | $139,131 | $1,516 | 11 mi |
| Dos Palos | city | 5,765 | $42,367 | $1,125 | 15 mi |
| Planada | CDP | 3,506 | $42,727 | $1,036 | 23 mi |
| Santa Nella | CDP | 2,107 | $99,154 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Le Grand | CDP | 1,636 | $45,938 | $866 | 26 mi |
Merced County households compared
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Merced County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 27.7% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 16.9% |
Reading the Merced County data as a borrower
Where the Merced County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Merced County budgets.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Budget math at the Merced County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Merced County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,459 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,343, takes 25% of that
- $568: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,457 total minus rent leaves $1,114
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Merced County's.
Who licenses lenders for Merced County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Merced County resident can confirm its license with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the California state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Merced County applicants
A short checklist for Merced County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the California license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Merced County
For statewide rules and data, see the California guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Merced County?
$65,510 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 50th of 58 in the state.
Is Merced County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,343 against $2,036 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Merced County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Merced, Los Banos, Atwater, Livingston, Winton and 20 more.
Are Merced County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Merced County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.