Uprootmap
Merced vs Stockton
Merced and Stockton
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Stockton are above the US rate in this release, 9.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Merced to Stockton
In 2022-2023, 213 households filed a move from Merced to Stockton (about 367 people, average adjusted gross income $41,347). 215 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,271 in Merced and $1,674 in Stockton. Merced has a state tax on wages. Stockton has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Stockton is 94% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Merced.
Stockton averages 251 sunny days, with July highs around 95°F and January nights around 43°F. Merced is 255 sunny days, 105°F in July, 41°F in January. Commutes average 35 minutes in Stockton 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, 213 households moved Merced → Stockton (about 367 people, average AGI $41,347). 215 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 Stockton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 71 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
Explore more
Dig into Stockton
Questions
Is Stockton cheaper than Merced after tax and rent?
No. Stockton leaves about $407 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,271 in Merced and $1,674 in Stockton.
Does Stockton have state income tax?
Stockton is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Merced to Stockton?
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.