Rents are 13% below what Merced's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,041 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Merced usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in August, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Merced is 0.1% below its high of $2,043 in June 2026, at $2,041 as of September 2026.
Rent in Merced changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Merced rose 46.3% while median household income rose 39.6% ($45,232 to $63,122). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Merced is 49.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($63,122) is $1,578 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,533); a 3-bedroom is $2,113.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Merced, 95348 ($2,157/mo), costs 28% more than the cheapest, 95340 ($1,690/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Merced. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Merced, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 20.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Merced, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Merced, CA has increased from $1,515 to $2,041, a 34.7% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $52,305 to $63,122 across the same window, up 20.7% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 6.9% since 2021, moving from about 85,993 residents to roughly 91,953. Renters now make up 54.1% of households, compared with 58.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 20.2% of adults here, versus 16.7% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Merced, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Merced on your salary?
At $2,041/mo, how Merced rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Merced rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Merced. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Merced
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Merced is $2,041/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,090/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,533/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,247/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,113/mo.
At 39% of local median household income ($63,122/yr), Merced ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Merced rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,041/mo, rent takes ~39% of Merced's median household income ($63,122/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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