Photo: Publichall · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Merced is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Merced differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merced. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merced
Making ends meet is harder in Merced
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (29.6%), vs 17.9% across California. Utility shut-off threats (12.7% vs 7.3%) and no reliable transportation (15% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 27.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Merced
51.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 16.4% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
More Merced adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.1%), vs 24.6% across California. There are 11 miles of trails across 34 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Merced’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Merced’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merced is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #686 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 67% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 6%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Merced’s median household income is $63,122; among the 9,604 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Merced compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.8% of Merced adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Keeping up with care
Share of Merced adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 34 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Merced adults…
Merced runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Merced residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Merced
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Merced, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Merced; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Merced adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Merced runs above California.
2 in 5 Merced adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Merced and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Merced adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merced
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merced is better than California on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Merced’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merced | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.4%26.5–32.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.3–17.9 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.5–21.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%26.9–41 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.4–14.8 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.3%27.7–35.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.5%30.6–38.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.5%18–23.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.4 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.3–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.4%13.6–19.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.6%12.7–16.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.1%28.6–37.9 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%12.9–18.8 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.4–45.7 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.1%15.2–19.2 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.3%65.1–73.4 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.9%48.3–55.7 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80%77.8–82 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.2%65–71.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 52.3%47.1–57.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.7%60.3–76.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%18.9–25.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%34.7–45.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.5%26.5–34.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.6%26.5–32.8 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23%20.4–25.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15%13.4–16.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.8%25.1–30.5 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.1%32.1–40.5 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%15.1–18.9 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.6%17.7–21.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.7%8–9.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.3–12.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%5.2–6 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Merced
Is Merced a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merced is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #686 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merced?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 41%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merced?
Mercy Medical Center in Merced, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Merced’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Merced have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.2–19.2%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Merced more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Merced.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.