California · FIPS 06047 · HUD FY 2027
Merced County, California Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Merced County is $1,517 a month (rent plus utilities), 42% below the California average of $2,632 and 14% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $14 (0.9%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $60,680 a year to afford it.
- $1,5172-bedroom FMR+$14 (+0.9%) vs FY 2026
- $1,2621-bedroom FMRCalifornia: $2,151 · U.S.: $1,478
- $60,680Income for a 2-bedroom$29/hour full-time
- 42 of 582BR rank in California1 = highest rent
| Unit | Merced County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | California avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,200 | $1,116 | +$84 (+7.5%) | $1,986 | $1,379 | $48,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,262 | $1,213 | +$49 (+4.0%) | $2,151 | $1,478 | $50,480 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,517 | $1,503 | +$14 (+0.9%) | $2,632 | $1,761 | $60,680 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,087 | $2,067 | +$20 (+1.0%) | $3,457 | $2,266 | $83,480 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,477 | $2,503 | −$26 (−1.0%) | $3,986 | $2,607 | $99,080 |
How Merced County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Merced, CA metro FMR area, which covers 290,201 residents in 1 county.
- Across California, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,084 (Modoc County) to $4,254 (Santa Cruz County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,200, $1,262, $1,517, $2,087, $2,477. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 19 ZIP codes mostly in Merced County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,360 to $1,860.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Merced County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93620 | $1,220 | $1,220 | $1,500 | $2,090 | $2,400 | +$140 (+10.3%) | 1% below |
| 93635 | $1,390 | $1,460 | $1,760 | $2,420 | $2,870 | no change | 16% above |
| 93665 | $1,160 | $1,220 | $1,470 | $2,020 | $2,390 | +$20 (+1.4%) | 3% below |
| 95301 | $1,120 | $1,180 | $1,420 | $1,950 | $2,330 | −$130 (−8.4%) | 6% below |
| 95303 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
| 95312 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | −$130 (−8.7%) | 10% below |
| 95315 | $1,120 | $1,170 | $1,410 | $1,940 | $2,300 | −$20 (−1.4%) | 7% below |
| 95317 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
| 95322 | $1,180 | $1,240 | $1,590 | $2,200 | $2,550 | +$140 (+9.7%) | 5% above |
| 95324 | $1,360 | $1,430 | $1,720 | $2,370 | $2,810 | −$90 (−5.0%) | 13% above |
| 95333 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
| 95334 | $1,320 | $1,390 | $1,670 | $2,300 | $2,730 | +$60 (+3.7%) | 10% above |
| 95340 | $1,120 | $1,180 | $1,420 | $1,950 | $2,320 | +$20 (+1.4%) | 6% below |
| 95341 | $1,150 | $1,210 | $1,460 | $2,010 | $2,380 | +$10 (+0.7%) | 4% below |
| 95348 | $1,470 | $1,550 | $1,860 | $2,560 | $3,040 | +$20 (+1.1%) | 23% above |
| 95365 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
| 95369 | $1,050 | $1,110 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
| 95374 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
| 95388 | $1,010 | $1,100 | $1,360 | $1,870 | $2,260 | no change | 10% below |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.