COUNTY REPORT CA

Merced County, California

22 ZIP codes · Avg score 89/100 · Grade A · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Merced County: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Across Merced County's 22 ZIP codes, EPA compliance data shows above-average performance - violation rates are minimal, none of the county's systems have triggered health-based MCL exceedances in recent cycles, and the county's scores have stayed above the national baseline across every recent reporting period.

How Merced County Compares

Merced County89/100
California avg76/100
National avg73/100

How Merced County Compares

A
County Grade
89/100
Avg Safety Score
22
ZIP Codes
15
Water Systems

Merced County scores 13 points above the California state average (76/100) and 16 points above the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

A
County Grade
89
Avg Safety Score
22
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 95324 (100/100)
Lowest ZIP: 95301 (75/100)
$353K
Median Home Value
$1,381
Avg Remediation (39% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Merced County, California

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 12.1 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 13%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,645, driven primarily by sea_level

59.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Merced County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
6 (6 health)
2022
10 (10 health)
2023
14 (14 health)
2024
44 (44 health)
2025
18 (18 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 44 violations. Past 5 years: 92 total (92 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window - worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 33.8% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1981
Median Build Year
59.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
39/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
52%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,645

Sea Level Rise $1,267/yr
Flood $1,250/yr
Energy Code Gap $426/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

87,294 housing units in Merced County

Pre-1940 5%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 27%
1980–1999 28%
2000+ 26%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Merced County

$353K
Median Home Value
$1,381
Est. Remediation Cost
0.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Merced County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Merced County residents

Asthma 9.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 33.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Merced County

8 community water systems serving Merced County.

Show all 8 water systems

15 total water systems serve Merced County.

Systems with the most violations in Merced County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Merced County

22 ZIP codes tracked in Merced County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 95324 Hilmar 100 A 14 (14 health) $442K
2 93620 Dos Palos 99 A 13 (12 health) $295K
3 93665 South Dos Palos 99 A 13 (12 health)
4 93635 Los Banos 96 A 2 (1 health) $424K
5 95322 Gustine 96 A 2 (1 health) $433K
6 95334 Livingston 96 A 3 (1 health) $346K
7 95388 Winton 87 A 10 (3 health) $308K
8 95348 Merced 83 B 0 $353K
9 95340 Merced 79 B 2 (1 health) $383K
10 95341 Merced 79 B 2 (1 health) $295K
11 95365 Planada 79 B 2 (1 health) $237K
12 95301 Atwater 75 B 5 (2 health) $368K
13 93661 Santa Rita Park
14 95303 Ballico $602K
15 95312 Cressey
16 95315 Delhi 15 (14 health) $338K
17 95317 El Nido $396K
18 95333 Le Grand 11 (9 health) $310K
19 95343 Merced
20 95344 Merced
21 95369 Snelling 6 (2 health) $351K
22 95374 Stevinson $436K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Merced County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Merced County in California covers 22 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of A (89/100) across 12 scored records.

14 of 15 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 41 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to California Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Merced County?
Merced County receives a grade of A, indicating generally safe tap water across its 22 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Merced County?
Merced County is served by 15 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 22 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Merced County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Merced County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $2,645 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Merced County?
The median home build year in Merced County is 1981. 59.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Merced County compare to California?
Merced County has an average Home Safety Score of 89/100 under model 4.0.0, which is above the California state average of 76/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Merced County, CA: HSS 89/100; 41 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/california/merced/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-california-merced,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Merced County, CA: HSS 89/100; 41 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/california/merced/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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