Population 5,543 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Merlin: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Merlin
Household size in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.50 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.55 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Merlin has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across Oregon. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.44, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.7 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.4 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 55.5 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.8 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 55.5, Merlin is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 49.7, mirroring the country. Only one other Oregon city with 5,000+ people is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 9.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.4% of households in Merlin, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 6.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 115 Oregon cities with 5,000+ people, only three have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Merlin
Renters in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 36.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 38.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 36.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.5 pts | +0.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Merlin is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (49.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 11.5 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 8.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Merlin: just 4.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1976 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Merlin is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Oregon.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $832 | $870 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $997 | $982 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $976 | $1,183 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,133 | $1,601 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$301 | +$731 | +$606 |
The median renter in Merlin pays $1,133 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $301 a month from 2006–10, a 36% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Merlin
Bachelor's degrees in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 29.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 30.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 33.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 36.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Merlin have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 88.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 89.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.2% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Merlin is above the national rate: 92.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Oregon. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Merlin
| Period | Merlin | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Merlin runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Merlin compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merlin | 2.56 | 55.5 | 5.4% | 12.7% | 4.9% | 1984 | $1,133 | 20.4% | 92.8% | 3.7% |
| Hugo | 2.34 | 58.4 | 3.5% | 10.7% | 14.6% | 1979 | $948 | 18.6% | 96.4% | 17.6% |
| Grants Pass | 2.42 | 47.3 | 12.1% | 32.1% | 6.2% | 1982 | $1,299 | 19.2% | 90.3% | 5.7% |
| Wilderville | 2.35 | 53.2 | 6.2% | 15.4% | 10.8% | 1989 | $892 | 19.8% | 91.6% | 10.0% |
| Wolf Creek | 2.09 | 61.0 | 4.5% | 17.7% | 16.9% | 1975 | $895 | 17.8% | 89.5% | 17.1% |
| Wonder | 2.43 | 54.5 | 6.7% | 19.3% | 10.9% | 1992 | $961 | 18.3% | 89.6% | 6.0% |
| Wimer | 2.63 | 52.1 | 6.3% | 11.0% | 9.0% | 1985 | $1,196 | 26.8% | 93.9% | 4.2% |
| Murphy | 2.22 | 51.9 | 4.3% | 17.8% | 7.1% | 1981 | $989 | 21.8% | 94.3% | 9.2% |
| Rogue River | 2.33 | 52.4 | 7.5% | 26.3% | 14.7% | 1983 | $1,326 | 20.1% | 91.5% | 6.7% |
| Glendale | 2.08 | 45.8 | 11.2% | 18.0% | 11.1% | 1971 | $1,192 | 15.9% | 89.8% | 4.7% |
| Glendale Junction | 1.95 | 67.2 | 5.1% | 13.8% | 21.1% | 1984 | $899 | 20.9% | 92.2% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lexington, MI · Livonia, NY · Littleton, NH · Littleton, NC · Littlefield, TX · Little Silver, NJ · Little Flock, AR · Lithia, FL · Litchfield, CT · Linwood, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Merlin. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.