Population 682 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Merna
Household size in Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.71 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.43 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.71 people per household, Merna sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Nebraska as a whole, where it has 2.51 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.28, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.1 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.0 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −8.2 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
Merna is young: half of its residents are under 36.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Merna, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Merna
Renters in Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.3% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.8% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.8% of households in Merna rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 58.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Merna than nationally: 12.9%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +15 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Merna is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $403 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $558 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $785 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $998 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$596 | +$429 | +$606 |
Rent in Merna runs $998 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 27.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Merna
Bachelor's degrees in Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.8% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Merna than nationally: 29.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.3% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Merna: 97.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Merna
| Period | Merna | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.7% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Merna has been strong: just 0.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Merna 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merna | 2.71 | 36.0 | 6.4% | 23.8% | 12.9% | 1965 | $998 | 29.8% | 97.8% | 0.7% |
| New Helena | 2.44 | 45.6 | 5.0% | 18.0% | 17.2% | 1955 | $914 | 27.0% | 97.5% | 0.4% |
| Weissert | 2.35 | 40.6 | 7.9% | 33.1% | 17.5% | 1961 | $815 | 27.6% | 94.6% | 1.0% |
| Broken Bow | 2.33 | 43.0 | 14.6% | 39.7% | 14.7% | 1962 | $927 | 23.8% | 94.5% | 4.9% |
| Anselmo | 2.29 | 52.1 | 8.6% | 20.1% | 16.8% | 1949 | $675 | 24.2% | 96.6% | 0.5% |
| Gates | 2.50 | 43.3 | 5.0% | 19.0% | 16.4% | 1957 | $946 | 27.7% | 97.7% | 0.4% |
| Callaway | 2.18 | 42.7 | 7.2% | 32.7% | 15.1% | 1967 | $744 | 30.1% | 95.4% | 0.7% |
| Berwyn | 2.36 | 47.4 | 1.4% | 17.2% | 18.9% | 1961 | $1,049 | 20.9% | 99.0% | 0.1% |
| Milburn | 2.09 | 57.5 | 4.2% | 18.4% | 30.3% | 1954 | $725 | 23.6% | 97.2% | 0.3% |
| Arnold | 2.63 | 41.0 | 12.1% | 28.0% | 10.6% | 1961 | $719 | 27.1% | 95.9% | 0.9% |
| Westerville | 2.23 | 50.2 | 6.0% | 25.3% | 20.9% | 1940 | $661 | 18.9% | 93.3% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kilbourne, LA · Sheakleyville, PA · Shawnette, TN · Shandaken, NY · Leapwood, TN · Le Boeuf Gardens, PA · Lawhorn Hill, KY · Lake Mykee Town, MO · La Barge, WY · Kipp, KS
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 Merna. 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.
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