Living in Merrill, Iowa

Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Merrill · Census data 2020–2024

Merrill has 846 residents with a median age of 36.9. The median household income is $82,969 (11% higher than the Iowa median), the median home value is $166,100, the median rent is $626/month.

Merrill is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.

Merrill at a glance

Population
846
Median age
36.9State: 38.6
Median household income
$82,969State: $75,059
Median home value
$166,100State: $208,000
Median rent
$626/moState: $972
Homeowners
83.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
13%
Average commute
18 min

Is Merrill a good place to live?

Pros: Median household income 11% higher than the Iowa median; home values 20% lower than the state median; an average commute of 18 minutes; unemployment of 1.8%; a poverty rate of 4.9%.

The weather is best in June to September.

Cost of living in Merrill

Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Merrill the median home value is $166,100, 50% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $626 per month, which is 16.6% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,222 a month in housing costs.

Median home value

Merrill$166,100
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700

Median monthly rent

Merrill$626
Iowa$972
United States$1,413

Merrill median household income

The median household income in Merrill is $82,969 and the income per person is $35,893. 4.9% of residents live below the poverty line (Iowa: 11.1%).

Median household income

Merrill$82,969
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734

Housing in Merrill: homes for sale and rent

Housing units
374
Owner-occupied
83.4%
Renter-occupied
16.6%
Vacant
8.3%Includes seasonal homes
Median year built
1957
Average household size
2.47

Merrill demographics

Population
846
Median age
36.9
Under 18
26.8%
65 and older
16.7%
Households
343
Foreign-born
1.4%
Veterans
10.8%Adults 18+

Race and ethnicity

White97.4%
Hispanic or Latino0.4%
Black1.1%
Asian0.7%

Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Merrill ›

Education in Merrill

13% of adults 25 and older in Merrill have a bachelor's degree or higher (Iowa: 31.4%), and 3% have a graduate or professional degree.

Bachelor's degree or higher

Merrill13%
Iowa31.4%
United States35.7%

Jobs and commute in Merrill

Unemployment rate
1.8%State: 3.6%
Average commute
18 minState: 20 min
Work from home
11.5%
Drive alone
85.1%
Public transit
0%
Walk to work
0.7%
Homes with broadband
92.1%

Merrill vs nearby towns

TownPopulationMedian incomeHome valueRent
Merrill846$82,969$166,100$626
Le Mars10,640$74,701$219,200$929
Brunsville210$45,000$129,200$1,417
Hinton931$114,531$263,100$979
Remsen1,823$91,477$185,900$938
Sioux City86,101$68,906$173,600$976
Akron1,689$66,250$157,900$710
Kingsley1,472$72,841$167,200$886
Lawton790$86,875$254,200$959

More for people moving to Merrill

Merrill ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›

Living in Merrill: FAQ

What is the median household income in Merrill, IA?

The median household income in Merrill is $82,969, 11% higher than the Iowa median of $75,059 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).

What is the average home price in Merrill?

The median home value in Merrill is $166,100, compared with $208,000 in Iowa.

How much is rent in Merrill?

The median gross rent in Merrill is $626 per month, about 16.6% of household income.

Is Merrill, IA a good place to live?

Pluses: median household income 11% higher than the Iowa median; home values 20% lower than the state median; an average commute of 18 minutes; unemployment of 1.8%; a poverty rate of 4.9%.

What is the median age in Merrill?

The median age in Merrill is 36.9 years (Iowa: 38.6).

How long is the commute in Merrill?

The average commute to work in Merrill is 18 minutes; 11.5% of workers work from home.

What is the unemployment rate in Merrill?

The unemployment rate in Merrill is 1.8% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).

How educated is Merrill?

13% of adults in Merrill have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.

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