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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Merritt Island

Florida · 36,090 residents · 17.0 sq mi
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The short version

Merritt Island is a city of 36,090 people in Florida. At a median age of 42.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Headcount has barely moved since 1990. The poverty rate is 9.4%, under the national 12.4%.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 35.2
More educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 5%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

36,090
+10%since 1990
from 32,886 in 1990
1990 – 2024
42.6
+11%since 1990
from 38.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
17.0 sq mi
Population, 19902024
32K34K35K36K37K19902000201020202024Merritt Island
202435K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.9%(1,771)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.9%(2,144)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.9%(2,475)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.2%(2,254)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244%(1,427)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.5%(3,414)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4416.7%(6,009)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5414.4%(5,213)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6411.8%(4,241)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7410.3%(3,733)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.7%(2,407)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.8%(1,002)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$43,532
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $35,803 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$23,961
+38%since 1990
from $17,400 in 1990
US average: $21,522
9.4%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 7.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$113,000
−5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $90,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$566
−11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $482 in 1990
US average: $602
74.9%
+2.6 ptssince 1990
from 72.3% in 1990
25.1% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(30,345)
Black5.2%(1,711)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,067)
Asian1.4%(453)
2000
White, non-Hispanic87.5%(31,565)
Black5.2%(1,871)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(1,381)
Asian1.6%(591)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican3.8%(1,335)
Cuban0.8%(281)
Mexican0.5%(190)
Colombian0.2%(68)
Guatemalan0.1%(47)
Dominican0.1%(45)
Spaniard0.1%(42)
Ecuadorian0.1%(37)
Honduran0.1%(27)
Peruvian0.1%(21)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino1.3%(471)
Asian Indian0.8%(264)
Chinese0.4%(151)
Vietnamese0.3%(99)
Japanese0.2%(58)
Korean0.1%(50)
Thai0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(17)
Ancestry
English17.1%(5,971)
German14.9%(5,215)
Irish13.2%(4,624)
Italian6.3%(2,207)
American4.6%(1,600)
Polish3.2%(1,121)
Scottish2.3%(807)
French1.9%(658)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(475)
Dutch1.2%(408)
Norwegian1%(366)
Swedish0.9%(306)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
British0.8%(274)
Russian0.7%(232)
Hungarian0.7%(231)
Austrian0.5%(169)
Swiss0.5%(168)
Welsh0.4%(145)
Romanian0.4%(139)
Canadian0.4%(138)
Portuguese0.4%(124)
Ukrainian0.3%(113)
Greek0.3%(90)
Finnish0.2%(83)
Danish0.2%(71)
Belgian0.2%(65)
Arab0.2%(63)
Lithuanian0.1%(52)
West Indian0.1%(44)
Lebanese0.1%(36)
Czech0.1%(30)
Brazilian0.1%(29)
Syrian0.1%(27)
Latvian0.1%(19)
Slovak0%(16)
Jamaican0%(15)
Iranian0%(12)
Kenyan0%(12)
Armenian0%(10)
Croatian0%(10)
Section 05

Education

28.2%
+4.8 ptssince 1990
from 23.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
88.4%
+2.9 ptssince 1990
from 85.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
10.0%
+3.8 ptssince 1990
from 6.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.8 min
−21%since 1990
from 19.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.9%(3,429)
Married60.4%(8,680)
Widowed3.5%(500)
Divorced12.2%(1,754)
Women 15+
Never married15.6%(2,423)
Married56.4%(8,739)
Widowed14%(2,174)
Divorced13.9%(2,157)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

8.6%
−6.3 ptssince 2013
from 14.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
53.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 55.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 16.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
28.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 25.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
12.7%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 12.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 4.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
70.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
39.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 37.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)26.9%(1,015)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.6%(966)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.4%(1,297)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War8.8%(333)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(22)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 3,771 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Merritt Island, Florida?

Merritt Island, Florida has about 36,090 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Merritt Island, Florida?

The typical household in Merritt Island, Florida earns about $43,532 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Merritt Island, Florida expensive?

In Merritt Island, Florida, the median home is worth about $113,000, and the typical rent is about $566 a month.

How educated are people in Merritt Island, Florida?

About 28.2% of adults age 25 and over in Merritt Island, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Merritt Island, Florida?

About 9.4% of people in Merritt Island, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Merritt Island, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Merritt Island, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,204 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →