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CITY

Merkel

Texas · 2,496 residents (2025 est.) · 2.798 sq mi
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The short version

Merkel has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,500. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $115,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 93%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,699
+2%since 2000
from 2,637 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
965 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 942 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.4
−2%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,496 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Merkel
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,500
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,083 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,143
+112%since 2000
from $13,292 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.7%
+38.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.407
+10%since 2010
from 0.370 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Information7.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food6.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services2.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$115,100
+93%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,058
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $385 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
27.0% rent
Vacancy rate
19.4%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
9.3%
−15.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
+39%since 2000
from 1.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
64
RELATED:See current rent listings in Merkel on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.8%(2,183)
Black1.1%(29)
Hispanic / Latino14.2%(375)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score33.8%(891)
2024
White, non-Hispanic71.4%(1,928)
Black1.9%(51)
Hispanic / Latino19%(514)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other7.6%(204)
Diversity Score55.9%(1,509)
Diversity Score
56
+66%since 2000
from 34 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+19.6 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.3 min
+93%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.3%
+7.7 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.9%
−16.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.0%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
54.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−42.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 20.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−66.0 ptssince 2013
from 76.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.7%
+35.0 ptssince 2017
from 56.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2016
from 84.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2016
from 10.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Merkel to nearby cities

MERKEL VS
Abilene
Income$62,648−15%
Home value$183,700+60%
Population131,588+5172%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERKEL VS
Sweetwater
Income$44,892−39%
Home value$80,800−30%
Population10,141+306%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERKEL VS
Snyder
Income$57,902−21%
Home value$104,000−10%
Population11,166+347%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERKEL VS
San Angelo
Income$65,864−10%
Home value$187,600+63%
Population100,640+3932%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Merkel, Texas?

Merkel, Texas has about 2,699 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merkel, Texas?

The typical household in Merkel, Texas earns about $73,500 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Merkel, Texas expensive?

In Merkel, Texas, the median home is worth about $115,100, and the typical rent is about $1,058 a month.

How educated are people in Merkel, Texas?

About 12.4% of adults age 25 and over in Merkel, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Merkel, Texas?

About 11.4% of people in Merkel, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Merkel, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Merkel, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 232 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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

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