Apartments for Rent in Merced, CA

Prices and availability in Merced, CA were last updated on 9 Oct 2026.

The best apartments in Merced, CA are: Willow Glen, Oak Terrace Apartments, 2355 K St. #112, 906 W. 22nd St. and The Retreat at Merced.

The average rent in Merced, CA is $1,579.

The price range for a studio apartment in Merced, CA is between $975 and $1,700.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Merced, CA is between $705 and $1,200.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Merced, CA is between $705 and $1,499.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Merced, CA is between $705 and $2,200.

In Merced, 54% of the residents are renting compared to 46% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 7% of Merced's rentals, 49% are small-scale complexes with under 50 units, and 43% are single-family rentals.

The age and size of multifamily buildings are among the most visible characteristics of the rental market in a city. In this case, the apartment buildings in Merced are about 38 years old, on average. Of these, 25% have been built since 2000, representing the newer options on the market and typically offering more amenities. Rental buildings in the city have an average height of 2 stories. About 98% of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, 2% are mid-rises, and none are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.

Rental apartments in Merced come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 6% of units for rent, ideal for singles, renters on a budget and people who value central locations more than space. Rentals with 1-bedroom floorplans make up 27% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 48% of all rentals in Merced. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.