Merced County Health Data
Merced County, California
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
40/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
76.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
8.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
76.2 yr
State avg 78.5 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
8.6%
State avg 7.2%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
42
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
251
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
29.0%
State avg 18.9%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
7.0
per 100K residentsCDC: 41.9 per 100K
Dentists
3.5
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
8.1
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Merced County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Merced | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 34.3% | 30.0% | 37.6% | 4.3 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 13.3% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 3.0 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 31.8% | 29.3% | 33.5% | 2.5 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 21.3% | 22.7% | 24.1% | 1.4 pts better than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Merced | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 14.5% | 12.6% | 16.3% | 1.9 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 15.8% | 17.6% | 17.8% | 1.8 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 33.7% | 24.1% | 27.0% | 9.6 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Merced | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 69.3% | 70.0% | 74.9% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 49.5% | 61.3% | 57.3% | 11.8 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 69.0% | 74.3% | 73.3% | 5.3 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Merced | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.8% | 18.3% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 38.9% | 35.3% | 37.3% | 3.6 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Merced County nationally on dental visit (past year).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Nearly Thirty Percent of Merced Residents Report Poor or Fair Health
Health data brief for Merced County, California.
Merced County reports that 29.0% of residents are in poor or fair health. This is 12 percentage points higher than the national average of 17%. The county's life expectancy is 76.2 years, which is lower than the California average of 78.5 and the national average of 77. The uninsured rate is 8.6%, higher than the state average of 7.2%. Primary care access is 42 providers per 100,000, which is lower than the national median of 70. Mental health provider availability is 251 per 100,000, almost identical to the national median of 250. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Merced County, California
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Mercy Medical Center
ERMemorial Hospital Los Banos
EReHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.