Population 2,348 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Merrill
Household size in Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Merrill sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Michigan as a whole, where it has 2.51 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.77, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.4 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Merrill is 42.4 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. That is in line with the rest of Michigan.
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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Merrill: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Merrill
Renters in Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 9.7% of households in Merrill rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 47.1% have no mortgage at all, 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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Merrill: 7.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing.
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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | −3 | +3 | +6 |
Merrill is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $479 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $650 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $877 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $882 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$403 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Merrill pays $882 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 37.5% 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 Merrill
Bachelor's degrees in Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Merrill: 16.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.4% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.9% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Merrill: 94.9% 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 Merrill
| Period | Merrill | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Merrill: 11.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Merrill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill | 2.66 | 42.4 | 6.3% | 9.7% | 7.2% | 1966 | $882 | 16.7% | 94.9% | 11.9% |
| Ryan | 2.62 | 43.1 | 5.5% | 9.7% | 7.5% | 1973 | $1,064 | 19.0% | 96.4% | 9.7% |
| Nelson | 2.62 | 46.9 | 6.7% | 7.0% | 6.2% | 1977 | $1,087 | 20.9% | 91.6% | 8.7% |
| Wheeler | 2.51 | 44.9 | 5.9% | 11.1% | 7.8% | 1970 | $1,033 | 20.5% | 95.9% | 2.5% |
| Hemlock | 2.55 | 46.3 | 8.6% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 1974 | $1,069 | 31.5% | 96.3% | 4.7% |
| Iva | 2.26 | 50.4 | 7.8% | 7.3% | 3.2% | 1969 | $1,069 | 23.5% | 98.8% | 12.1% |
| Rathbone | 2.49 | 40.6 | 4.6% | 13.9% | 13.1% | 1943 | $1,213 | 14.4% | 90.3% | 1.4% |
| Orr | 2.68 | 44.9 | 9.1% | 7.1% | 4.4% | 1974 | $1,072 | 37.2% | 96.3% | 2.9% |
| Breckenridge | 2.60 | 41.7 | 12.0% | 22.2% | 6.3% | 1968 | $880 | 14.8% | 92.7% | 5.5% |
| Roosevelt | 2.42 | 50.2 | 7.7% | 6.8% | 5.2% | 1977 | $1,032 | 20.6% | 92.0% | 9.8% |
| Marion Springs | 2.07 | 51.3 | 3.9% | 10.1% | 10.5% | 1979 | $1,044 | 13.9% | 89.9% | 7.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Argyle, NY · Williamsburg, CO · Whitley City, KY · Webster, SD · Webster, GA · Wares Crossroads, GA · Valley Forge, PA · Trenton, TX · Towamensing Trails, PA · Kinderhook, NY
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 Merrill. 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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