City profile
Atwater, CA
Merced County · Population 32,162
Atwater is a town in Merced County, CA with about 32,162 residents and a typical home value near $363,000. It is 98 miles from Sacramento, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
49°F
Summer avg
77°F
Sunny days / yr
265
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$363,400
Typical monthly housing
$2,189
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
108
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 97/100
Top hazards: Drought, Earthquake, Heat wave
Nearest major airport
63 mi to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 47% Democratic / 51% Republican
Community
Population
32,162
Black population
3.1%
County
Merced County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 32,162 residents
- Typical home value about $363,000
- 98 miles from Sacramento, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.