Home Insurance in Merced, California
Homes in Merced carry a median value of $372,600 - close to the Merced County median.
The typical home in Merced was built around 1985. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 18% of homes were built before 1960, about 1 point above Merced County's 17%.
Housing in Merced breaks down to 68% single-family homes, 18% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 68% of owner-occupied homes in Merced have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
Merced has an owner-occupancy rate of 46% and a vacancy rate of 6%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Most homes in Merced - 61% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
Merced County had 4,410 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is earthquake (Relatively High). See the full Merced County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Earthquake damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
In California, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,655 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $372,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1985 |
| Owner-occupied share | 46% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 68% |
| Top county hazard | Earthquake (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Merced County | 4,410 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,655 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)