$442,734Average Value$251Average Price per Sq Ft67Homes For Sale
A built-up suburban feel with plenty of recreation and shopping centers
One of the most populated areas in Merced, North Merced is a dense, highly developed suburb just north of downtown. It's home to plenty of recreation that shows off the area’s landscape: miles of bike trails shaded by towering fruit trees, and parks alongside gentle creeks home to beavers and waterfowl. Surrounding the recreation, there’s a wide variety of housing sectioned off in subdivisions: condo communities, new homes built in the 2020s and spacious homes from the 1980s. The neighborhood has a campus for Merced College, a community college, which adds some foot traffic to an area that most people drive around. Since it’s right above downtown, there are convenient commutes to the city’s main retail destination, although North Merced also offers some shopping, including a few strip malls and an indoor mall undergoing renovations.
North Merced is a quiet neighborhood known for it's tree lined streets.
Residents of North Merced can take a day trip to Yosemite and other national parks.
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Over 20 miles of bike trails, plus lively Fahrens and Rahilly parks
North Merced brims with recreation opportunities, including many paths like Black Rascal Creek Bikeway and Bear Creek Bikeway. In fact, the bike paths connect, creating a 20-mile long trail that passes through much of the neighborhood and goes up to Yosemite Lake. “The bike paths are very traditionally popular because of the creeks and natural habitats in the area. The trees along them are fully mature, so people use them for biking, jogging and walking. They’re very beautiful trails,” says Anthony Anderson, resident of Merced for over 40 years. According to Anderson, many residents of the older generation use the paths for their morning walks. The paths go through many of North Merced’s parks like Fahrens Park, which is located on the neighborhood’s west side. The park is known for its disc golf course and wildlife watching at Fahrens Creek, where beavers, ducks and more animals live. Centrally located Rahilly Park also has a creek, plus playgrounds and tall palm trees shading the area. “Bernasconi Park is popular. A lot of parents go to that one,” says Realtor Norma Lopez who works with Keller Williams Property Team and has over a decade of experience in the area. On the eastern side of the neighborhood, this park has shaded playgrounds, ballfields and basketball courts. Some of the city’s paths and parks are home to housing settlements, as homelessness has become an important issue in Merced. The city has created the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan, which plans to create emergency shelters, transitional housing and affordable housing.
Friends come together for a game of disc golf at Fahrens Park in Merced.
Take the family for some fun at Rahilly Park in Merced.
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Merced public schools, including Peterson Elementary and Cruikshank Middle
A few different schools serve the area. One possible school pipeline for students in the northern part of the neighborhood starts with Allan Peterson Elementary School, which has a B grade on Niche. Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle School has a B-minus, while Merced High School has a B. The high school offers courses including welding, accounting and sports medicine. For higher education, there’s Merced College, a public community college that features the Agricultural and Industrial Technology Complex, a new building with labs and classrooms for agribusiness, horticulture and more. “I live in the area. It’s honestly really quiet, and I love that college. That’s where I went to college, and I grew up on that campus because my siblings and I played water polo there,” Chavez says. Another option is the University of California Merced, the only university in the United States with a carbon neutral campus completely composed of LEED certified buildings. It has 60 undergraduate programs for majors like biology, psychology and computer engineering.
Welcome to Merced High School in Merced.
Merced College offers a variety of classes and programs for residents of the Merced area.
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Shopping at the Marketplace at Merced and Yosemite North Shopping Center
Marketplace at Merced is the neighborhood mall currently undergoing renovations, although the process has been going on for years. Construction was paused during the pandemic, and the mall was sold. Now new ownership is working toward completing the renovation, with plans to revamp the old Sears building as well as establish a new anchor store and new fast-food restaurants. “Many stores in the mall have stayed in there, but only half the mall is open. They do well enough to keep it,” says Emerson Chavez, bartender at Native Son and resident of North Merced. Although the selection may be limited, there are locals who enjoy what’s there. “The mall is really small and undeveloped, but they have fun stores like crystal shops, a Hot Topic, Kohl’s and Bath & Body Works,” says UC Merced student employee Kayla McCoy. Yosemite North Shopping Center is another retail area on the neighborhood’s north side. This strip mall features many restaurants like the fast-casual El Asadero Taco Shop for Mexican food. It also has a Raley's supermarket. Across the street from the strip mall, Yosemite Station is a laid-back diner with a student menu. It has specials for UC Merced and Merced College students.
North Merced has several shopping centers filled with trendy places for a snack like Em-Tea.
Kohl's is one of several department stores located in North Merced.
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Events at Applegate Park Zoo and Merced County Library
Merced's Applegate Park Zoo, just south of North Merced, hosts special guests, including other animals. “The zoo is lean, very small, but they try to do events like a mobile reptile zookeeper coming through,” says Library Resource Tech Teresa Bomersbach, who works at Merced County Library. This bulks up the zoo’s variety of species, which currently includes 75 animals native to California. Only a couple miles south of North Merced, the Merced County Library has a frequent rotation of events covering all age ranges, with separate teen, adult and children calendars. “Each week there are three story times. The children’s story times are always full at 40 people max. On Saturdays, the teen Dungeons & Dragons gaming is always full too,” Bomersbach says.
Three miles from downtown Merced and the Golden State Highway
North Merced is a car-dependent neighborhood, about 3 miles north of downtown Merced. The neighborhood’s also a few miles from U.S. Route 99, also called the Golden State Highway. Mercedians can use it to get to Fresno, which is 60 miles east of the city. For medical services, there’s the Dignity Health Hospital - Mercy Medical Center, only 2 miles north of the community. The Fresno International Airport is 60 miles away.
A suburban setting, with 1980s and 2020s single-family homes
Directly north downtown Merced and Bear Creek, North Merced is a more suburban neighborhood. There’s less through traffic, and its roads are mostly full of winding roads through subdivisions instead of grid-style blocks. The northern edge of the community has a university presence. “On Moraga and Bellevue roads, there’s a mix of families and students,” says Alicia Hernandez, bartender at Native Son and student at the University of California Merced. The housing varies between sections, with some condo communities on the west end of the neighborhood and many apartment buildings scattered throughout the area. However, North Merced is mostly composed of single-family houses. Newer homes built in the 2020s range from $500,000 to $600,000, while larger 1980s houses on Whitegate Drive range from $700,000 to $800,000. These 1980s homes are often on lots around an acre in size, landscaped with boxwood shrubs and hedges. Condos range from $250,000 to $350,000. North Merced locals have seen a hot market in recent years with rising home prices, most likely because of the increased student presence from UC Merced. “Rent is getting raised an insane amount,” Chavez says.
There is a wide variety of home styles in the North Merced neighborhood.
Colonial style homes are among the styles found along the quiet streets of North Merced.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Alex Salazar,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Applegate Park
Merced Dog Park
Rahilly Park
Burbank Park
Merino Park
Fahrens Park
Bob Carpenter Neighborhood Park
Sante Fe Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
North Merced
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
North Merced Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North Merced, Merced sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in North Merced, Merced over the last 12 months is $415,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to your dream home! Step inside and experience a home that blends modern touches, stylish conveniences, and timeless charm--a true standout in today's market. As you enter, you'll be greeted by real hardwood floors in most of the home. Look up and admire the unique beauty of the hot-mopped ceilings, a rare and elegant touch. The living room exudes elegance, featuring a custom hearth
Charming Updated Home in North Merced with Pool, Spa, Garden, and MoreWelcome to this beautifully maintained and thoughtfully updated home in North Merced, just minutes from Merced College. Set on a spacious, fully fenced lot, this property offers a rare combination of comfort, charm, and functionality.Inside, you'll find brand new luxury vinyl plank flooring, a cozy wood burning fireplace, and
Welcome to your dream home! Step inside and experience a home that blends modern touches, stylish conveniences, and timeless charm--a true standout in today's market.As you enter, you'll be greeted by real hardwood floors in most of the home. Look up and admire the unique beauty of the hot-mopped ceilings, a rare and elegant touch. The living room exudes elegance, featuring a custom hearth
Imagine building your own custom home in North Merced, with convenient locations like Walgreens, 711, and a local park nearby. With a beautiful neighborhood and nice houses around the area.
Envision the opportunity to design a bespoke residence or elegant duplex in the esteemed heart of North Merced. This generous 6,338 sq. ft. parcel presents a blank canvas, ready for your creative vision. Perfectly positioned, it offers effortless access to a selection of upscale shopping, fine dining, and delightful local parks. Begin the journey to create your dream home and immerse yourself in
At Merced Station, live without limits. Enjoy a study session on your balcony. Take a dip in the resort-style swimming pool. Gather in the Clubhouse on Friday nights. At Merced Station, great living takes center stage.You’ll love being right in the heart of an outdoorsy community, giving you the opportunity to explore on weekends while keeping you conveniently close to the University of
Great established location and park-like neighborhood of North Merced, offering open, roomy home design with high ceiling family room, gas fireplaces for chilly winters, and inviting natural lighting and brightness during daytime. Spacious kitchen including microwave, electric range, dishwasher, refrigerator and connected laundry room with almost new washer/dryer. Enjoy the green and soothing
Sahara Apartments is a beautifully landscaped community nestled in a tranquil neighborhood located in Merced, CA. This property offers spacious 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and is in an unbeatable location. UC Merced is only a short 3 mile drive and Cat Tracks is easily accessible. We are also very close to the Merced Mall, premier area restaurants, and other fine retail shops. Our apartment homes
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Alex Salazar,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
32,614
Median Age
34
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$54,887
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$75,575
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
83.4%
College Graduates
26.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.6%
% Population in Labor Force
58%
Below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
73/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
47/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
