CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Merkel

Texas · 2,590 residents · 2.798 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Abilene metro area
Compare
The short version

Merkel has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $36,693. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $55,100. The poverty rate of 25.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 26% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 37.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,590
−2%since 2000
from 2,637 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
926 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 942 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.7
+4%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Merkel
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,693
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,083 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,002
+28%since 2000
from $13,292 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
13.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
25.6%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.370
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Wholesale trade11%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance9.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8%
US avg: 1.9%
Information7.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade7.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing5.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Construction4%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing3.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food3.7%
US avg: 2.4%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 7%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$55,100
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$600
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $385 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
35.2%
−35.9 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
28.0% rent
Vacancy rate
16.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
1.5
+34%since 2000
from 1.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic79.8%(2,066)
Black1%(27)
Hispanic / Latino17.8%(461)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0.5%(13)
Diversity Score40.3%(1,044)
Diversity Score
40
+19%since 2000
from 34 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
74.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
2.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+41%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
18.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
2.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.4%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.5%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
20.2%
−32.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
51.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
5.9%
−43.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Merkel

Greenbriar
Pop 2,283
Astatula
Pop 2,314
Lake Belvedere Estates
Pop 2,672
Bay Pines
Pop 2,519
Places similar to Merkel
Head to head

Compare Merkel to nearby cities

MERKEL VS
Abilene
Income$62,648+71%
Home value$183,700+233%
Population131,588+5172%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERKEL VS
Sweetwater
Income$44,892+22%
Home value$80,800+47%
Population10,141+306%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERKEL VS
Snyder
Income$57,902+58%
Home value$104,000+89%
Population11,166+347%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERKEL VS
San Angelo
Income$65,864+80%
Home value$187,600+240%
Population100,640+3932%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Merkel, Texas?

Merkel, Texas has about 2,590 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merkel, Texas?

The typical household in Merkel, Texas earns about $36,693 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 $55,100, and the typical rent is about $600 a month.

How educated are people in Merkel, Texas?

About 12.1% 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 25.6% 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 123 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Texas
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Merkel with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →