Uprootmap
Merced vs Fresno
Merced and Fresno
Photo: JMora24 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Fresno are above the US rate in this release, 8.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Merced to Fresno
In 2022-2023, 572 households filed a move from Merced to Fresno (about 1,139 people, average adjusted gross income $51,157). 400 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,271 in Merced and $1,356 in Fresno. Merced has a state tax on wages. Fresno has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Fresno is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Merced.
Fresno averages 261 sunny days, with July highs around 105°F and January nights around 39°F. Merced is 255 sunny days, 105°F in July, 41°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Fresno and 31 in Merced.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 572 households moved Merced → Fresno (about 1,139 people, average AGI $51,157). 400 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Merced and Fresno changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 74 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $350–$700
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Dig into Fresno
Questions
Is Fresno cheaper than Merced after tax and rent?
No. Fresno leaves about $76 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,271 in Merced and $1,356 in Fresno.
Does Fresno have state income tax?
Fresno is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Merced to Fresno?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.