Median Age
34 Years
Largest Age Group
10-19 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
30%
Over 65
14%
Atwater
Atwater, CA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$954
Population
34,316
Renter Mix
44% Rent
A city you'll be proud to call home
History
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Military
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Airport
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Colleges
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UC Merced
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Family-Friendly
•
Outdoors
•
Parks
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The city of Atwater, roughly eight miles northwest of Merced, was formed in the late 1800s and incorporated in 1922. It features a charming downtown shopping area with brick-paved walkways and wide sidewalks, and its neighborhoods provide shady, tree-lined streets filled with attractive homes. Atwater is home to the Castle Air Museum, a former military base that features the largest vintage aircraft display in the West. It is also home to another historic location, the Bloss Mansion, built in 1914. Today, the mansion is home to the Atwater Historical Society.
Living in Atwater, you'll have fast access to Merced County Castle Airport, situated on the northeastern side of the city, Merced College, about eight miles away in Merced, and the University of California, Merced, which is 10 miles east of Atwater. Modesto is also nearby, roughly 30 miles northwest. Bus service is available in Atwater for those who prefer mass transit, or take Highway 99. One of the nation's favorite parks, Yosemite National Park, is only a 90-minute drive from Atwater for hiking and camping trips.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$57,121
Average: $71,323
Education
3,640
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
14,876
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Atwater has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
44%
Non-Renters
56%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
8%
Other Education
92%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Atwater, CA is $954 for one bedroom, $1,107 for two bedrooms, and $1,369 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Atwater has increased by 0.9% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$954/month
603 Sq Ft
House
$2,210/month
1,411 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Atwater, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
528 Students
Public
Grades K-5
514 Students
Public
Grades K-5
374 Students
Public
Grades K-8
712 Students
Public
Grades K-5
371 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
178 Students
Public
Grades K-8
712 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
744 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
Public
Grades 9-12
1,704 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,029 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Applegate Park Zoo
- Yosemite Lake
- McConnell State Park
Military Bases
Top Apartments in Atwater
Houses for Rent in Atwater
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Nearby House Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.