Merced County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Merced County CA was $1,097 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Merced County was $1,057 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Merced County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Merced County rental vacancy rates, Merced County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Merced County.
Real Gross Rent in Merced County California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| Merced County CA Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +5.38% | +16.58% |
Merced County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,097, real median gross rent in Merced County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,057, real average gross rent in Merced County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Merced County CA Median, Merced County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Merced County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Merced County CA Median |
Merced County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,097 | $1,057 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,041 | $1,015 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,034 | $1,019 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $941 | $893 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $927 | $877 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $906 | $878 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $910 | $912 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $887 | $856 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $879 | $862 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $902 | $895 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $921 | $884 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $905 | $853 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $930 | $889 |
Merced County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Merced County California was 2.45% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Merced County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Merced County CA | 2.45% | -0.47% | -3.40% |
Trends in Merced County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Merced County peaked in 2010 at 10.80%. Since then it has fallen by 8.35% to 2.45%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Merced County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Merced County
| Date | US | California | Merced County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 2.45% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 2.92% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 4.18% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 5.85% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.88% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 3.21% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 4.86% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 5.35% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 7.61% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 10.80% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 6.31% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 6.28% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 5.81% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Merced County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Merced County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.52% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Merced County California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| Merced County CA | 21.52% | +0.26% | -1.08% |
Trends in Merced County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Merced County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.48%. Since then it has fallen by 3.96% to 21.52%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Merced County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Merced County California
| Date | US | California | Merced County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.52% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 21.26% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 25.21% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.60% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 24.97% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 23.36% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 25.48% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 22.96% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 24.39% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 22.81% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 24.53% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 20.81% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 22.16% |
Renter Fraction in Merced County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Merced County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Merced County as a fraction of total Merced County households. In 2019 47.84% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Merced County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| Merced County CA | 47.84% | +0.90% | +0.03% |
Trends in the Merced County CA Renter Fraction
The Merced County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 51.23% and is now 3.39% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Merced County CA, California, US
History of Merced County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Merced County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 47.84% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 46.94% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 51.23% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 47.81% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 48.83% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 50.24% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 47.65% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 46.46% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 48.04% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 45.41% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 46.14% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 43.13% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 40.89% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / California
- / Merced County
