Population 8,864 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Merriman Valley
Household size in Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.05 | 2.45 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.88 | 2.48 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.88 | 2.43 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.80 | 2.37 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.25 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Merriman Valley is a place of small households, averaging 1.80 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.05, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Akron neighborhood has smaller households.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 39.7 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.6 | 40.6 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.1 | 41.6 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 42.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +2.5 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
At 40.2, the median age in Merriman Valley is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the Akron area as a whole, where the median age is 42.2. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.2, mirroring the country.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 10.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 10.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 11.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Merriman Valley (11.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Merriman Valley has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Akron neighborhoods.
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 Merriman Valley
Renters in Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.3% | 30.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 59.4% | 32.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.0% | 33.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 63.9% | 31.9% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +1.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Merriman Valley rent: 63.9% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. About four in ten owners (40.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 9.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 10.3% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 9.9% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Merriman Valley than nationally: 6.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 9.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Akron neighborhood has a lower vacancy rate.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1968 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1968 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1969 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +2 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Merriman Valley was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the wider Akron area, where the median home dates to 1970. No other Akron neighborhood has newer homes.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $745 | $834 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $766 | $856 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $807 | $957 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,145 | $1,182 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$400 | +$349 | +$377 | +$606 |
Rent in Merriman Valley runs $1,145 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $400 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Among Akron's 19 neighborhoods, though, only one other has higher rents.
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 Merriman Valley
Bachelor's degrees in Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2% | 29.4% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.2% | 30.1% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.6% | 32.5% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 35.8% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Merriman Valley (37.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 90.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 92.0% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 92.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Merriman Valley is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Merriman Valley has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Akron neighborhoods.
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 Merriman Valley
| Period | Merriman Valley | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −3.5 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Merriman Valley has been low: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Akron neighborhood has lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Merriman Valley compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merriman Valley | 1.80 | 40.2 | 11.7% | 63.9% | 6.6% | 1983 | $1,145 | 37.0% | 93.6% | 2.1% |
| Northwest Akron | 2.22 | 44.1 | 13.4% | 13.3% | 9.8% | 1960 | $1,032 | 59.1% | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| Wallhaven | 1.99 | 42.1 | 8.2% | 38.2% | 4.0% | 1952 | $1,046 | 46.2% | 93.9% | 3.9% |
| Highland Square | 2.00 | 41.8 | 8.2% | 58.0% | 7.5% | 1943 | $1,160 | 38.2% | 93.7% | 10.1% |
| North Hill | 2.68 | 34.1 | 17.8% | 57.2% | 10.2% | 1943 | $1,019 | 15.6% | 75.7% | 10.5% |
| West Village | 2.26 | 39.3 | 7.5% | 37.0% | 4.0% | 1946 | $1,010 | 36.7% | 93.5% | 2.3% |
| Elizabeth Park Valley | 2.43 | 37.5 | 37.5% | 62.8% | 7.6% | 1960 | $1,022 | 21.7% | 82.7% | 9.0% |
| North Village | 2.08 | 35.6 | 11.2% | 25.0% | 3.3% | 1945 | $1,001 | 35.5% | 96.4% | 5.8% |
| West Akron | 2.36 | 41.9 | 27.4% | 46.9% | 13.5% | 1948 | $1,055 | 16.5% | 89.5% | 9.1% |
| East Village | 2.16 | 36.7 | 20.0% | 42.8% | 11.6% | 1956 | $1,099 | 29.0% | 91.9% | 3.5% |
| Chapel Hill | 2.09 | 39.2 | 9.9% | 64.7% | 8.4% | 1965 | $839 | 11.3% | 79.9% | 9.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Longfellow, Emeryville, CA · Bethel Welborn, Kansas City, KS · Brookline Village Commercial District, Brookline, MA · Central Business District, Kansas City, MO · Day Square, Boston, MA · Downtown Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek, CA · Federal Hill Historic District, Bristol, CT · Midtown, Little Rock, AR · Zilker, Austin, TX · Midway-Coldstream, Baltimore, MD
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 Merriman Valley. 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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