With 2,699 people, Merkel is a city in Texas. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $115,100. 4% of people here were born outside the United States. The median age is 35.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. Owners hold 73% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $73,500, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Merkel
What changed most since 1990
Poverty rate31.7% → 11.4%(−20.3 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$38,363 → $73,500(+92%)US over the same years: +14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree6.7% → 12.4%(+5.7 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
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)10.4%(13)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)16%(20)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era68.8%(86)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 125 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
Over time
Merkel, decade by decade
Merkel population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
2,467
$38,363
$67,442
6.7%
31.3
2000
2,637
$52,979
$59,568
11.3%
36.8
2010
2,590
$52,785
$79,265
12.1%
41.5
2020
2,471
$69,035
$79,510
11.8%
53.6
2024
2,699
$73,500
$115,100
12.4%
55.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
