Checked
Atwater, CA
City in Merced County, California.
Population
32,162
Land area
6.6sq mi
People per sq mi
4,897
ZIP codes
0
Atwater and its ZIP codes
Atwater at a glance
- Atwater is about 19 times as dense as California as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 254th among 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- The median household income is $64,472, 35% below the California median of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $363,400 (51% below California) and median rent is $1,279 a month.
Local data for Atwater, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Atwater, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$64,472
Poverty rate
21.0%
Median home value
$363,400
Median rent
$1,279/mo
Homeownership
52.1%
Bachelor's or higher
12.9%
Median age
33.0
Average commute
28.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (18,372), German Americans (1,733), Portuguese Americans (1,378).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Merced County. PPP loans are for Atwater.
Unemployment rate
8.9%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,826
85,663 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,481
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.37B
FY 2026, $4,888 per person
How people get to work
Atwater, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.2%
- Carpooled12.6%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked0.8%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.3%
- Worked from home4.2%
Average one-way commute: 28.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Atwater, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
689
Countywide, mostly flood
Flood insurance policies
3,886
5.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
95° / 37°F
12.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Atwater, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.2%
U.S. 33.3% +0.9 pts
Diabetes
13.1%
U.S. 12.1% +1.0 pts
Smoking
14.5%
U.S. 12.8% +1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.1%
U.S. 11.1% +6.0 pts
Cities near Atwater
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WintonCensus-designated place | 2.3 mi | 3 |
| McSwainCensus-designated place | 2.5 mi | 6 |
| FranklinCensus-designated place | 3.9 mi | 2 |
| CresseyCensus-designated place | 5.6 mi | 1.8 |
| MercedCity | 7.2 mi | 23.2 |
| LivingstonCity | 7.3 mi | 3.7 |
| BallicoCensus-designated place | 8.7 mi | 3 |
| University of California-MercedCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 0.7 |
| Bear CreekCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.1 |
| DelhiCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 3.5 |
| TuttleCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 1.8 |
| StevinsonCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| Hilmar-IrwinCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 3.9 |
| SnellingCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| El NidoCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 3.3 |
| PlanadaCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 1.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Atwater, CA in?
- Atwater is in Merced County, California.
- What is the population of Atwater, CA?
- About 32,162 people live in Atwater, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Atwater?
- Nearby places include Winton (2.3 mi), McSwain (2.5 mi), Franklin (3.9 mi), Cressey (5.6 mi), Merced (7.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023