State rank#23 of 58
Smallest county290,201 residentsLos Angeles County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 06047
Merced County, California
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population290,201
Household income$65,510
Unemployment9.8%
Life expectancy76.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Merced County has 290,201 residents and ranks #23 by population among California county equivalents. Median household income is $65,510. The annual-average unemployment rate is 9.8%. Its clearest relative strength is median home value. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within California
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Merced County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Merced County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median home value.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $391,800 median home value and $1,343/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,510, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Merced County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median home value, median gross rent, and life expectancy. College attainment is 15.3% and life expectancy is 76.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Median home value: $391,800, rank #19 of 58 available California counties.
- Median gross rent: $1,343/mo, rank #21 of 56 available California counties.
- Life expectancy: 76.2 years, rank #41 of 57 available California counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Poor or fair health: 29%, rank #57 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 9.8%, rank #55 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%, rank #55 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within California
Rank and range use only counties in California with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$65,510
$65,510; below the state county median of $83,473.
State rank #50 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$391,800
$391,800; below the state county median of $481,100.
State rank #19 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,343/mo
$1,343/mo; below the state county median of $1,624/mo.
State rank #21 of 56 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
9.8%
9.8%; above the state county median of 5.5%.
State rank #55 of 58 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
15.3%
15.3%; below the state county median of 25.7%.
State rank #55 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.2 years
76.2 years; below the state county median of 78.2 years.
State rank #41 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
29%
29%; above the state county median of 18.4%.
State rank #57 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
8.6%
8.6%; above the state county median of 7.3%.
State rank #47 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,387 residents
1 per 2,387 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,459 residents.
State rank #47 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 398 residents
1 per 398 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 247 residents.
State rank #48 of 58 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Merced County FAQ
Is Merced County a good place to live?
Merced County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median home value, median gross rent, and life expectancy. College attainment is 15.3% and life expectancy is 76.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Merced County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $391,800 median home value and $1,343/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,510, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Merced County?
Merced County has 290,201 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Merced County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 06047; the parent state FIPS is 06.
What is the median household income in Merced County?
The ACS median household income is $65,510.
How much does housing cost in Merced County?
Housing benchmarks are $391,800 median home value and $1,343/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,510, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Merced County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 9.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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