Atwater, officially the City of Atwater, is a city on State Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is 8 miles (13 km) west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m). The population as of the 2020 census was 31,970, up from 28,168 in 2010.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Atwater ranks

All →

#102Highest graduation rate in CA #117Fastest growing in CA #124Cheapest rent in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code95301, 95342

Area code209

Living in Atwater

Housing in Atwater

$422K▲ 0.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Atwater home is worth about $422,000, up 0.9% in a year, 45% below the California typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market23

Sale-to-list99.5%

Sold in May15

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Atwater

Safety Grade D

Atwater reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Atwater 5.8

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Atwater 20

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Atwater

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Atwater for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Merced (17%), Turlock (5%) and Modesto (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Merced

17%

Turlock

Modesto

Livingston

11%Work in townlive and work in Atwater 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,475Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Atwater →

Health in Atwater

Health Grade C

Healthier than 26% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

16worse than CA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 16 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

17.1%More uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · worse 11.4%More adults facing a utility shut-offCA 7.3% · worse 27.3%More adults facing food insecurityCA 17.9% · worse

Care nearby

Mercy Medical CenterMerced · 7.1 mi · ER

Castle Family Health Center @blossAtwater · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Atwater · CMS · HRSAHealth in Atwater →

Natural hazards in Atwater

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes🌡️ Heat waves

2Does Atwater flood?paid flood claims since 1980 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Atwater

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Atwater →

Climate in Atwater

Full climate →

Atwater has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.

58° / 39°Winter

74° / 48°Spring

93° / 61°Summer

78° / 51°Fall

How much snow does Atwater get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 24, with the last in spring around Mar 3.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Atwater →

Schools in Atwater

All Atwater schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Atwater’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 50% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Atwater’s schools compare in CA →

DistrictAtwater ElementarySchools15

Peggy Heller ElementaryElementary · Grades K–8 · 712 students Bellevue ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 599 students Mitchell ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 528 students Elmer Wood ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 514 students Juniper ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 495 students Shaffer ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 405 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.