Population 7,724 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Merrick County
Household size in Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Merrick County are small: just 2.38 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.48, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.2 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.1 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
Merrick County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.1, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Merrick County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Merrick County
Renters in Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.9 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.8% of households in Merrick County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 42.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 8.9 points, even as the national share rose. Few Nebraska counties have a lower share of renters: only eight of 93.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Merrick County is close to the national rate: 10.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Nebraska as a whole (7.8%). Vacancy is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
Merrick County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $556 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $571 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $734 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $842 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$287 | +$429 | +$606 |
The median renter in Merrick County pays $842 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $287 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 21.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Merrick County
Bachelor's degrees in Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Merrick County: 19.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Nebraska counties have a lower share of college graduates: only six of 93.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Merrick County is a bit above the national rate: 91.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Nebraska. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Merrick County
| Period | Merrick County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.3% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Merrick County has been strong: just 0.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only seven of Nebraska's 93 counties have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 5.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Merrick County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrick County | 2.38 | 43.1 | 6.8% | 17.8% | 10.8% | 1965 | $842 | 19.0% | 91.7% | 0.3% |
| Howard County | 2.60 | 41.7 | 10.8% | 21.8% | 16.3% | 1961 | $939 | 25.6% | 96.0% | 3.7% |
| Polk County | 2.44 | 45.0 | 6.1% | 21.1% | 14.5% | 1957 | $730 | 20.3% | 94.0% | 1.2% |
| Butler County | 2.37 | 41.8 | 4.9% | 20.1% | 12.5% | 1964 | $901 | 23.8% | 91.0% | 1.2% |
| Sherman County | 2.21 | 46.4 | 6.0% | 24.6% | 24.0% | 1955 | $779 | 20.7% | 92.1% | 3.3% |
| Saunders County | 2.62 | 40.4 | 7.8% | 17.9% | 12.0% | 1970 | $989 | 33.3% | 97.0% | 3.0% |
| Douglas County | 2.55 | 36.7 | 11.6% | 38.5% | 6.3% | 1977 | $1,396 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 4.1% |
| Sarpy County | 2.71 | 37.0 | 9.5% | 29.6% | 4.6% | 1994 | $1,451 | 43.2% | 95.6% | 2.5% |
| Pottawattamie County | 2.45 | 41.1 | 11.3% | 30.1% | 7.3% | 1967 | $1,056 | 23.9% | 90.6% | 3.7% |
| Mills County | 2.67 | 42.2 | 9.2% | 16.5% | 11.2% | 1969 | $937 | 30.9% | 96.8% | 1.9% |
| Lincoln County | 2.24 | 43.0 | 12.7% | 34.4% | 12.0% | 1969 | $898 | 22.8% | 94.2% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Reagan County, TX · Jayuya Municipio, PR · Jeff Davis County, GA · Jeff Davis County, TX · Jefferson County, FL · Jefferson County, GA · Jefferson County, IA · Jefferson County, MS · Johnson County, NE · Randolph County, GA
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 Merrick County. 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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