Living in Merced, CA
Small city in California
Merced is a small city in California, home to about 90,000 people, with 392,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Merced a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Easy flying: FAT is 56 mi away
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $370k and rents for $2,070 a month
👎 Cons
- Fewer graduates: 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Smaller job market: about 392,000 people live within 31 mi
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Merced ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Merced: common questions
What is the cost of living in Merced?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $370k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,070 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Merced?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.7% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Merced safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.7× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Merced?
Merced has mild winters: winter days average around 57°F and summer days around 93°F.
Does Merced get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.41 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Merced?
The nearest major airport is FAT, about 56 mi away.
How Merced scores
Each bar compares Merced with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Merced right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.