NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Merced, CA

Metro Market Score 38.3 (Moderate), ranked #119 of 330 metros. 161 establishments, 619 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 38.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

Merced's real estate and rental and leasing market sits near the national metro median, ranking #119 of 330 with a market score of 38.3. No single metric stands out as an outlier, which means entry conditions depend more on your specific business model than on broad market forces.

Industry Concentration
9.1
LQ: 0.47
Rank #30 of 330 metros
Wage Competitiveness
27.0
$50,281 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 20.3
Employment growth index
Rank #264 of 330 metros
Wage Pressure
26.7
YoY wage change index

161 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Firms in Merced

161
Establishments
+3.2% YoY
619
Total Employment
-3.4% YoY
$50,281
Average Annual Wage
+10.8% YoY
0.47
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Merced vs California Statewide

How this metro's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to California overall. The state ranks #39/51 for entry risk.

Measure Merced CA Statewide
Overall Score 38.3 Moderate 47.1 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #119 of 330 metros #39 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Merced

Information 16.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 17.5 Administrative and Support Services 19.7 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 29.9 Construction 30.0 Finance and Insurance 34.4 Other Services 43.0 Retail Trade 56.2 Accommodation and Food Services 64.8

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Other California Metros

El Centro 22.5 #33/330 Hanford-Corcoran 29.8 #67/330 Fresno 30.3 #72/330 Modesto 35.8 #104/330 Salinas 37.9 #116/330 Yuba City 40.3 #143/330 Visalia 41.8 #157/330 Redding 43.3 #171/330 Santa Cruz-Watsonville 44.3 #178/330 Bakersfield-Delano 46.5 #188/330

+ 14 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Merced's real estate and rental and leasing sector, the employment growth component (79.7) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.