Merced County, CA

County

Cities in Merced County

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Demographics of Merced

Median Age

Bachelor's Degree+

15.3%

Households with Children

39.9%

School Enrollment K-12

41,389

Age Distribution

Population breakdown by life stage — from children to seniors. Reveals the generational mix of the community.

Early Childhood (0-4): 7.0%
School Age (5-17): 21.7%
Young Adults (18-34): 25.8%
Working Age (35-54): 23.8%
Pre-Retirement (55-64): 10.0%
Seniors (65+): 11.7%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Educational Attainment

Highest level of education completed by residents 25 and older. Reflects the academic profile of the area.

Less than High School: 27.7%
High School / GED: 29.7%
Some College or Associate's: 27.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 15.3%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Household Type

Household composition by family type and presence of children. Helps understand the family character of the area.

Families with Kids: 22.9%
Single Parents: 17.0%
Couples & Adults: 33.0%
Living Alone: 27.1%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic composition based on U.S. Census self-identification. Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity that may overlap with any race.

White: 23.2%
Hispanic or Latino: 63.4%
Asian: 7.1%
Black or African American: 2.6%
Other Race / Two or More Races: 3.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.2%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources·Fair Housing Policy

Asian Population by Origin

Based on single-race Census responses. Residents who identify with multiple races may not appear here.

East Asian: 35.1%
South Asian: 35.0%
Southeast Asian: 26.1%
Central Asian: 1.2%
Other Asian: 2.6%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Hispanic Population by Origin

Hispanic or Latino origin is asked separately from race — a person can be both Hispanic and any race.

Mexican: 95.4%
Puerto Rican: 0.5%
Cuban: 0.1%
Dominican: 0.0%
Central American: 1.8%
South American: 0.3%
Other Hispanic or Latino: 1.9%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

White Population by Ancestry

Ancestry reflects how residents self-identify culturally, not necessarily country of birth.

European: 41.2%
Middle Eastern or North African: 1.4%
Other White: 57.4%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Place of Birth

Where residents were born — in-state, from other U.S. states, or from abroad. Reflects the community's migration patterns.

Born in Same State: 66.5%
Born in Other U.S. State: 7.0%
Born Outside U.S. (American): 1.0%
Foreign-Born Naturalized: 10.8%
Foreign-Born Non-Citizen: 14.8%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Language Spoken at Home

Languages spoken by residents at home. Shows the linguistic diversity and cultural makeup of the area.

English Only: 47.3%
Spanish: 44.2%
European & Indo-European: 4.8%
East & Southeast Asian: 3.3%
Arabic: 0.2%
Other: 0.1%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

School Enrollment

Current school enrollment levels from pre-K through graduate school. Useful for families evaluating local education demand.

Preschool / Kindergarten: 2.9%
Elementary (1-4): 6.5%
Middle School (5-8): 6.7%
High School (9-12): 7.6%
College / Graduate: 7.8%
Not Enrolled: 68.5%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources