Merced County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$65,510$5,459 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Merced County, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Merced County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Merced, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,116 | $13,392 | $44,640 | 20.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,213 | $14,556 | $48,520 | 22.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,503 | $18,036 | $60,120 | 27.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,067 | $24,804 | $82,680 | 37.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,503 | $30,036 | $100,120 | 45.8% |
What a typical income covers in Merced County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $65,510 a year ($5,459 a month before tax).
What $65,510 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Merced County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Merced County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Merced County, CA is $65,510 per year (approximately $5,459 per month).
What is the average rent in Merced County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,116 for a studio, $1,213 for one bedroom, $1,503 for two, $2,067 for three and $2,503 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Merced County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 98.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Merced County, CA?
To keep a $1,503 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $60,120 a year, or $5,010 a month. That is 92% of what the typical household in Merced County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Merced County, CA?
On the local median income of $65,510 ($5,459 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,730 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,638 for everything else and $1,092 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,503 takes 55% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Merced County, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.