The Town FilesPlanada, California
Community in Merced County · population 4,164 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,400
- Household income
- $42,727
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.0
Planada is a community of 4,164 people in Merced County, California. The median home is worth $266,400, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks easier by car than 98% of California towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of California towns.
How Planada ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Planada is worth $266,400, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $42,727, which is more affordable than 55% of California towns. Median rent is $1,036 a month. 49.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Planada | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,400 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,036 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $42,727 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 49.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Planada
| People | Planada | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.2% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 0.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 44.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 59.7% | 93.3% |
Weather in Planada
July highs average 96.3°F and January lows 37.0°F. About 11.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Planada since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on December 16, 2002 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 28, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on October 29, 2000.
Severe weather in Merced County since 1996
Merced County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Merced County
Merced County had 84,952 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,952 a year. Unemployment was 9% in 2023; in Planada itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Planada
2 public schools with 870 students, about 20.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planada Elementary | K-5 | 585 | 21.7 |
| Cesar E. Chavez Middle | 6-8 | 285 | 17.8 |
Towns near Planada
- Merced, CA8.3 mi · 86,333 people · home $372,600
- Franklin, CA11.8 mi · 6,919 people · home $308,200
- Chowchilla, CA12.8 mi · 19,039 people · home $364,000
- McSwain, CA14.7 mi · 4,480 people · home $690,100
- Atwater, CA15.8 mi · 31,970 people · home $363,400
- Winton, CA17.5 mi · 11,709 people · home $339,400
- Livingston, CA23.1 mi · 14,172 people · home $372,700
- Madera Acres, CA23.3 mi · 9,162 people · home $346,800
Planada questions
Is Planada, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Planada scores better for retirees than 32% of California towns and quieter than 59%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Planada?
The median owner-occupied home in Planada is valued at $266,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,727, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $1,036 a month.
What is the weather like in Planada?
July highs average 96.3°F and January lows 37.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Planada get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Planada since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on December 16, 2002. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)