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CITY · 2020 ACS

Merkel

Texas · 2,471 residents · 2.80 sq mi
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The short version

With 2,471 people, Merkel is a city in Texas. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $65,600. The foreign-born share is 2%. Getting to work takes 38 minutes on average. 72% of homes are owner-occupied.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

2,471
−6%since 2000
from 2,637 in 2000
1990 – 2025
38.3
+6%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
2.80 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K2K3K3K19902000201020202024Merkel
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.6%(162)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.2%(179)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.5%(209)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.5%(161)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(124)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.4%(306)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.1%(299)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.9%(293)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.8%(341)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.8%(217)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.5%(136)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.8%(44)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$56,958
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,083 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$24,699
+86%since 2000
from $13,292 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.4%
+25.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
18.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Finance & insurance12%
US avg: 5.5%
Information10.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade7.9%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Education & health services6%
US avg: 0.8%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction5.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$65,600
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$816
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $385 in 2000
US average: $1,124
72.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
27.5% rent
2.93 people
+20%since 2009
from 2.44 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.2
−15%since 2009
from 1.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.8%(2,183)
Black1.1%(29)
Hispanic / Latino14.2%(375)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic72%(1,778)
Black1.1%(26)
Hispanic / Latino23.1%(570)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0.8%(19)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican17.8%(466)
Cuban0.7%(19)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(4)
Japanese0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German9.4%(245)
Irish8.8%(231)
French4.5%(117)
American4%(106)
English4%(106)
Dutch2.2%(57)
Scottish2.1%(54)
Italian1.3%(34)
Welsh0.8%(22)
Hungarian0.8%(21)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(17)
Czech0.5%(14)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(12)
British0.4%(11)
Norwegian0.3%(7)
Section 05

Education

11.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.1%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
4.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

37.9 min
+168%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
78.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
9.8%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

0.9%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
66.4%
+11.8 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
68.6%
US average: 73.3%
33.3%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

46.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
53.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
1.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
17.4%
−6.5 ptssince 2013
from 23.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
92.8%
US average: 91.9%
87.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married32.6%(329)
Married53.1%(536)
Widowed5.5%(56)
Divorced8.8%(89)
Women 15+
Never married20.3%(209)
Married56.2%(580)
Widowed12.8%(132)
Divorced10.8%(111)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

17.4%
−6.5 ptssince 2013
from 23.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
54.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
5.9%
US average: 13.7%
15.6%
US average: 17.6%
19.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
61.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
31.9%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)28.8%(42)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.9%(29)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era51.4%(75)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 146 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 Merkel, Texas?

Merkel, Texas has about 2,471 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merkel, Texas?

The typical household in Merkel, Texas earns about $56,958 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 $65,600, and the typical rent is about $816 a month.

How educated are people in Merkel, Texas?

About 11.8% 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 18.0% 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 4 residents, a change of about 0 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 →