Population
297,260
2025
+5.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Merced County, CA: population growth, jobs and income
Merced County gained 453 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.2%).
Merced County had an estimated 297,260 residents in 2025, up 5.1% (14,365 more people) since 2020. That is faster than California as a whole (−0.4%), and the 6th fastest growth of 58 counties in California.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Merced County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Merced County, ranked against California and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,343/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.3%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months4672025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−1,310
2025
−4.4 per 1,000 residents
+1,932 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
10.2%
2025
+2.0 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
780
2025
−23.3% since 2021
2.6 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$65,510
2020–24
+16.3% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
49,545
2023
+7.6% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 1,310 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 49,545 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.6% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 10.2% in 2025, 2.0 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 780 new homes in 2025, or 2.6 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $65,510 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +16.3% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 603rd.
Part of the Merced, CA metro area.
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Merced County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 297,260 | +453 |
| 2024 | 296,807 | +2,488 |
| 2023 | 294,319 | +2,538 |
| 2022 | 291,781 | +3,927 |
| 2021 | 287,854 | +4,959 |
| 2020 | 282,895 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Merced County
Merced County grew by 14,365 people since 2020; the largest part came from natural change (+7,910).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +1,591 | +7,910 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +145 | +4,540 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −1,310 | +1,932 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +27 | −17 | |
| Total change | +453 | +14,365 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In California | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 6th of 58 | 603rd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 33rd of 58 | 2,496th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 26th of 58 | 925th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 50th of 58 | 1,572nd of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 55th of 58 | 3,096th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 24th of 58 | 1,263rd of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Merced County, CA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Merced County's population change (+5.1%) was ahead of 4 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (San Benito County and Madera County).
Its median household income ($65,510, 2020–24) is lower than in all 6 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced County, CA This county | 297,260 | +5.1% | −4.4 | 2.6 | $65,510 |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 557,719 | +0.7% | −4.3 | 2.2 | $81,468 |
| San Benito County, CA | 70,082 | +8.6% | 9.7 | 3.5 | $114,394 |
| Mariposa County, CA | 16,918 | −1.2% | 0.4 | 1.3 | $68,412 |
| Madera County, CA | 167,927 | +7.4% | 5.1 | 7.4 | $76,627 |
| Fresno County, CA | 1,035,456 | +2.6% | −4.4 | 2.2 | $74,201 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,914,391 | −0.9% | −10.3 | 2.8 | $164,281 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Merced County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 5.1% between 2020 and 2025, about 14,365 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). California as a whole changed −0.4% over the same years. That ranks 6th of 58 counties in California for population growth.
How many people moved to Merced County?
On net, none in 2025: about 1,310 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Merced County?
It averaged 10.2% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Merced County?
About 297,260 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Merced County?
Private employers there had 49,545 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.6% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in California
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other California county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Merced County data alerts
Email me when Merced County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.