Best Places to Live in Merced, California

Merced, California is a mid-sized city located in Central Valley known for its proximity to Yosemite National Park or Lake Yosemite making it an ideal spot for outdoor recreation. Small city - Central California, mid-Central Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento.

State: California
County: Merced County
Metro Area: Merced Metro Area
City: Merced

Zip Codes: 95340 95348 95341
Cost of Living: 5.8% higher
Time zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Elevation: 22 ft above sea level

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Merced, Ca Housing Market

Least Expensive Homes	Homes Over 2,000 Sq. Ft.
Most Expensive Homes	Homes less than 10 yrs old
All Single Family Homes

Pros
Nearby national parks
Emerging college town
Future job growth

Cons
Low educational attainment
Cost of living
Current unemployment

What Bert Has To Say About Merced Metro Area

Merced has played a role, for the past 125 years, as a sleepy agricultural and transportation center and a travel gateway to Yosemite National Park. But in 2005, the long-awaited University of California Merced campus was finally opened, which should over time greatly influence its role and character and bring positive growth. Aside from the University and its 2100-acre campus northeast of town, Merced is a typical Central Valley town, with a pleasant if somewhat mundane character. Retail and residential growth are well-planned and attractive.

Highlights

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate in Merced is 9.3% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%). Recent job growth is Positive. Merced jobs have increased by 2.5%. More Economy

COST OF LIVING

Compared to the rest of the country, Merced's cost of living is 5.8% higher than the U.S. average. More Cost of Living or Compare Merced's Cost of Living

WEATHER & CLIMATE

May, October and April are the most pleasant months in Merced, while January and December are the least comfortable months. Today's Weather | Climate Averages

VOTING

In the last Presidential election, Merced county remained strongly Democratic, 53.8% to 43.3%. More Voting Stats

POPULATION

Merced's population is 88,235 people. Since 2020, it has had a population growth of 6.4%. Learn More...

TRANSPORTATION

Average Commute time is 23.6 minutes. The National Average is 26.4 minutes. Learn More...

REAL ESTATE

The median home cost in Merced is Real Estate: $321,700. Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 8.3%.

SCHOOLS

Merced public schools spend $8,250 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. There are about 23.6 students per teacher in Merced. More Education

Best Places to Live in Merced Rankings

#79	America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)
#289	Best Green Cities
#328	2005 Best Places to Live

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Housing Market in Merced

It's a good time to buy in Merced. Home Appreciation is up 22.7% in the last 12 months.
The median home price in Merced is $321,700.

Schools: See Local Schools

Real Estate: See Homes

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Reviews for Merced 44 Reviews

Merced: The Hippest Place in the Valley - 12/22/2020
Merced is totally slept on - you want a little bit of everything CA has to offer, at a fraction of the price of other CA cities? Merced is the place to go. The town... Read More

Sean | Merced, CA | Reply | No Replies

Start Your Review of Merced

Good place to live - 2/25/2020
Good place to live. More affordable than most of california. The city is growing and there is alot of business and growth here. Moved from the Bay area years ago and... Read More

Nate | Merced, CA | Reply | 1 Reply

Great place to live. Do not listen to angry people - 2/22/2020
Great place to live. Lots of progress and changes coming to the city. Great place to raise a family. UC Merced is expanding and businesses are investing. Downtown is... Read More

Nate | Merced, CA | Reply | No Replies

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ZIP CODES IN MERCED, CALIFORNIA

95340 95348 95341

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United States / California / Merced Metro Area / Merced County / Merced / Zip Codes