Merced California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Merced, CA (the Merced metro area) was $1,097 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Merced 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 median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Merced rental vacancy rates, Merced rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Merced.
Real Gross Rent in Merced 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, CA Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +5.38% | +16.58% |
Merced, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,097, real median gross rent in Merced was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,057, real average gross rent in Merced was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Merced: Merced CA Median, Merced CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Merced
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Merced, CA Median |
Merced, 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 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 California was 2.45% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Merced California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Merced, CA | 2.45% | -0.47% | -3.40% |
Trends in Merced, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Merced 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 CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Merced
| Date | US | California | Merced, 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, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Merced, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.52% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Merced 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, CA | 21.52% | +0.26% | -1.08% |
Trends in Merced, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Merced 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 CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Merced California
| Date | US | California | Merced, 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 California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Merced 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 as a fraction of total Merced households. In 2019 47.84% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Merced 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, CA | 47.84% | +0.90% | +0.03% |
Trends in the Merced, CA Renter Fraction
The Merced 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 CA, California, US
History of Merced Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Merced, 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. ↩
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