Apartments for Rent in Merced, CA

Prices and availability in Merced, CA were last updated on 8 Jul 2026.

The best apartments in Merced, CA are: Willow Glen, Oak Terrace Apartments, 118 W. 12th St., 1422 Lansing St. and 1840 U St. #3.

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

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Merced, CA is between $546 and $1,175.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Merced, CA is between $782 and $1,500.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Merced, CA is between $782 and $1,950.

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 average age of rental buildings in Merced is 38 years old, with 25% being newer apartment buildings completed since 2000. The average height of apartment buildings in the city is 2 stories, of which 98% are garden-style apartment communities, 2% are mid-sized buildings, and none are high-rises. These characteristics describe large-scale apartment communities of 50 apartments or more.

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.