Merced, California Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the Merced, California rental market.

Merced, California

Average Apartment Rent

$1,579

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

8.2%

As of November 2024

Compared to a year ago, Merced, California apartments have recorded a 8.2% rent increase.

Merced, California Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Nov 2021 Mar 2022 Jul 2022 Nov 2022 Mar 2023 Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024
Merced $1,216 $1,265 $1,262 $1,417 $1,460 $1,482 $1,460 $1,488 $1,535 $1,579
National $1,596 $1,635 $1,708 $1,726 $1,714 $1,739 $1,733 $1,727 $1,752 $1,748
Merced
National
Nov 2021
$1,216
$1,596
Mar 2022
$1,265
$1,635
Jul 2022
$1,262
$1,708
Nov 2022
$1,417
$1,726
Mar 2023
$1,460
$1,714
Jul 2023
$1,482
$1,739
Nov 2023
$1,460
$1,733
Mar 2024
$1,488
$1,727
Jul 2024
$1,535
$1,752
Nov 2024
$1,579
$1,748

Merced, California Average Apartment Rent

Merced, California Apartment rent ranges

Under $500
$501 - $700
$701 - $1000
$1,000 - $1,500
$1,500 - $2,000
Over $2,000

At 50.6%, apartments priced $1,000 - $1,500 represent the bulk of Merced, California rentals, while condos priced $700 - $1000 hold the lowest share of the market – 3.8%.

Merced, California Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 15,367
Owner occupied housing units 11,717

Renters take up 57% of Merced, California real estate, occupying a total of 15,367 units, while homeowners live in 11,717 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

4.7

Renter median household income**

$44,117

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

3.25

Rental vacancy rate**

5.9%

Merced, California Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 1,095
1 bed 2,249
2 beds 4,814
3 beds 4,669
4 beds 2,088
5 or more beds 452

There are 4,814 rentals in Merced, California with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 31%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (3%), amounting to 452 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in Merced, California homes for rent is 4.7.

Merced, California Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 1,558
25 - 34 years 4,039
35 - 44 years 3,748
45 - 54 years 2,426
55 - 59 years 631
60 - 64 years 1,022
65 - 74 years 1,390
75 - 84 years 434
85 years and over 119

Most condos for rent in Merced, California are occupied by residents in the 25 - 34 years age group (26%), followed by those in the 35 - 44 years age group (24%). At the same time, people in the 85 years and over age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 1%.

Merced, California Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 10,269
Non-Family Households 5,098

Merced, California Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 7,151
No related children of the householder under 18 8,216

A total of 10,269 apartments for rent in Merced, California, or 67% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 47% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 7,151 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in Merced, California is 3.25.

Merced, California Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 3,905
High school graduate (including equivalency) 3,380
Some college or associate's degree 5,846
Bachelor's degree or higher 2,236

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 15% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 25% of the homes for rent in Merced, California.

Merced, California Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2020 or later 89
Built 2010 - 2019 915
Built 2000 - 2009 2,891
Built 1990 - 1999 1,530
Built 1980 - 1989 2,539
Built 1970 - 1979 2,966
Built 1960 - 1969 1,132
Built 1950 - 1959 1,638
Built 1940 - 1949 896
Built 1939 or earlier 771

The highest share of Merced, California apartment rentals, namely 19% or 2,966 units, were Built 1970 - 1979, followed by those Built 2000 - 2009 (19%, 2,891 units), and the ones Built 1980 - 1989 (17%, 2,539 units).

Merced, California Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 790
Moved in 2018 to 2020 5,374
Moved in 2010 to 2017 7,401
Moved in 2000 to 2009 1,386
Moved in 1990 to 1999 282
Moved in 1989 or earlier 134

Median year renter moved into unit 2016

Most Merced, California renters (48%) moved in 2010 to 2017, while only 1% of them moved in 1989 or earlier. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their Merced, California condos for rent is 2016.

Merced, California Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 2,131
1 vehicle available 6,100
2 vehicles available 4,468
3 vehicles available 1,688
4 vehicles available 614
5 or more vehicles available 366

When it comes to transportation options, 40% of Merced, California renters have 1 vehicle available per household, 29% of them have 2 vehicles available, and 14% have No vehicle available.

Merced, California Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 12,620
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 1,264
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 257
Walked 433
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 2,047
Worked at home 1,037

Merced, California Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 40,251
Moved within same county 5,314
Moved from different county within same state 2,170
Moved from different state 991
Moved from abroad 373

The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Merced, California apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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