A rapidly growing agricultural city with a revitalized downtown and an artistic culture
Within the San Joaquin Valley, one of California’s breadbaskets, the city of Merced lies among dairy farms and spacious pastures dotted with grazing cows. Merced’s longstanding agricultural industry continues to thrive, although the economy has diversified to support the community’s growth to about 90,000 people. “It’s up-and-coming. They’re redoing a lot of downtown. For a long time, the businesses weren’t doing too good, but now it’s a more vibrant place and people want to be there,” says Realtor Norma Lopez, who works with Keller Williams Property Team and has over a decade of experience in the area. The Main Street business district supports a growing arts scene and quirky local businesses, lending the midsized city a small-town atmosphere. Many of the recent changes can be traced to the University of California Merced’s opening in 2005, which has also created a hot housing market and increasing prices.
Downtown Merced is a vibrant community located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley.
Productive farmland rests against the edges of South Merced's residential streets.
Residents of Downtown Merced can find farm fresh produce at the Merced Certified Farmers Market.
UC Merced is a major economic and social draw to the Merced area.
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Assorted shopping centers, including a vibrant Main Street and Marketplace at Merced
In downtown Merced, people can find a quaint Main Street of low-rise buildings that house cafes, vintage shops, entertainment and more. “The movie theater was upgraded recently and is a good place to go. Some of the family-owned restaurants have survived and thrived throughout the years,” says Anthony Anderson, resident of Merced for over 40 years. For a fine dining experience, Rainbird is located in the historic El Capitan Hotel, which was recently remodeled. It serves entrees focused on using ingredients from local farms to honor Merced’s history of agriculture. An indoor mall, Marketplace at Merced is being renovated and has been for years. The pandemic interrupted construction, but there are plans to redo the old Sears building, create a new anchor store and put in new fast-food restaurants. For strip malls, residents can go north of downtown to Bear Creek Village Shopping Center and College Green Shopping Center, which are full of big box stores and fast-food joints.
Check out a new movie with friends at the Regal Hollywood Cinema in Downtown Merced.
Stop into Rainbird for a delicious lunch in Downtown Merced.
Bear Creek Galleria is one of many shopping centers in North Merced.
The Marketplace at Merced offers a variety of shops and services in the North Merced area.
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Artsy attractions and theater at Playhouse Merced
Despite being a smaller city, Merced’s arts scene flourishes with multiple cultural venues. “There are a lot of different things on the creative scene, with many visual and performing artists and gems that you have to look for,” says resident Tracy Anderson. One of the most iconic buildings in the city, the Art Kamangar Center at The Merced Theatre features striking Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, a renovated interior and concerts. Playhouse Merced puts on 10 shows a year in a compact space ideal for intimate performances. The Merced Multicultural Arts Center is a gallery with pieces by local and national artists, plus classes and live music events.
Downtown Merced is a vibrant area and the heart of the city's culture.
The Merced Multicultural Arts Center is a great place to see local art in Downtown Merced.
The Merced Theatre is a landmark of Merced's history and culture.
There are many bright murals showcasing area artists in Downtown Merced.
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Eclectic homes, including farms and new
Composed of many single-family homes, Merced has mostly smaller lots in downtown and the suburbs directly north of it. However, there are plenty of multiacre lots available in the city’s rural outskirts. The diverse architectural styles include Queen Anne Victorians, new construction, cottages and farms that come with acres of land. A cottage in need of renovations may go for about $150,000, while a farm that comes with many acres may be priced around $2 million. Much of the new construction is located on the northern edge of the city, especially in the Bellevue Ranch subdivision, which is getting a new fire station expected to be completed within five years. A new contemporary house with three bedrooms may be priced around $450,000. There’s a high demand for housing in Merced, with an influx of students from the University of California Merced. “Investors in the Bay Area have increased the property value, and there’s a housing shortage now,” says Anthony Anderson. On average, homes stay on the market for 41 days in contrast to the national average of 44 days, with a median sales price of $400,000.
There are restored Victorian style homes located in Downtown Merced.
Craftsman style homes come in a variety of styles and colors in Downtown Merced.
Newly built contemporary homes are available in Southeast Merced.
Ranch style homes on large lots are common throughout the Bellevue area of Merced.
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Birdwatching and water recreation in a warm climate
Surrounded by natural landscapes, Merced offers outdoor recreation galore. At the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, birdwatchers can gather to watch flocks of waterfowl and sandhill cranes migrate to conserved grasslands and wetlands. For water recreation, Lake Yosemite County Park provides a reservoir ideal for swimming, launching kayaks and fishing from docks. It’s considered the most popular park in the city. Nicknamed the “Gateway to Yosemite,” Merced is about 70 miles from the world-famous Yosemite National Park, with hiking trails through sequoia canopies and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On average, Merced has 262 sunny days per year in a semidesert climate, where summer days can go up to 100 degrees. There’s severe heat risk in the area, but the winter temperatures rarely go below freezing, allowing residents to go outside throughout the year.
Lake Yosemite offers outdoor activities like boating and fishing in the Merced area.
Lake Yosemite is a great spot for fishing near the Bellevue neighborhood of Merced.
Bird watch on the observation deck at Merced National Wildlife Refuge in Merced County.
Residents of North Merced can take a day trip to Yosemite and other national parks.
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Merced school districts, higher education and major employers
Students are served by the Merced City Elementary School District, which earns a C grade on Niche. Serving around 11,000 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the district’s student-teacher ratio is 26-to-1. After completing middle school, students can transfer to Merced Union High School District, which has a B-plus rating, nine high schools and also has a student body of around 11,000. There are also higher education institutions like Merced College, a community college, and the University of California Merced. The university is known for its carbon neutral campus and has been responsible for many of the city’s changes, like the rise in housing prices. The Merced City School District, Merced College and the University of California Merced are all some of the biggest employers in the city, along with Golden Valley Health Centers and Merced County.
John Muir Elementary School serves grades K-6 in Merced.
Herbert Hoover Middle School serves grades 7-8 in Merced.
Merced High School serves grades 9-12 in Merced.
Merced College offers a variety of classes and programs for students in Merced.
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Commutes to Fresno and more transportation
Merced commuters can reach several big cities in California. They can drive to Fresno in around 60 miles and San Jose in about 120 miles from Merced via California 152, typically a two-hour drive. Public transportation includes the Merced County Transit System for bus services, while Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System provides rides to Yosemite National Park. Amtrak provides rail services and is one of the more popular methods of travel. The city also has a Station Area Plan for a high speed rail station in downtown, expected to be completed between 2030 and 2033. For medical services, residents can go to Dignity Health Hospital - Mercy Medical Center. The closest minor airport is Merced Regional Airport, while the closest major airport is the Fresno Yosemite International Airport in Fresno.
Merced crime
According to some recent data from the FBI, the violent crime rate has increased from 2022 to 2023. The rate rose from 99 to 223 per 100,000 people. During the same period, the property crime rate also increased from 215 to 237 per 100,000 people. Unhoused residents have become important to Merced, which aims to help with the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan. It will create more transitional housing, emergency shelters and affordable housing. The city also has a program called Merced Area Crime Stoppers that gives callers anonymity when reporting a crime.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
