COMPARING TWO PLACES
Merkel vs Abilene
PLACE A
Merkel, Texas
VS
PLACE B
Abilene, Texas
Merkel is 98% smaller than Abilene. Merkel earns more, with a median household income $10,852 higher. Abilene has grown faster since 2000 (7% vs -5%).
MERKELABILENEDIFFERENCE
Total population2,496131,588−98% vs Abilene
Population density8921,234−342
Population growth-4.6%6.9%−11.5 pts
Median age35.432.8+2.6
Male46.0%51.4%−5.4 pts
Female54.0%48.6%+5.4 pts
Foreign-born3.9%7.4%−3.5 pts
White, non-Hispanic71.4%56.8%+14.7 pts
Black1.9%9.8%−7.9 pts
Hispanic / Latino19.0%27.1%−8.1 pts
Asian0.1%2.3%−2.2 pts
Other7.6%4.1%+3.5 pts
Median household income$73,500$62,648+$10,852
Per capita income$28,143$31,321−$3,178
Poverty rate11.4%16.1%−4.7 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4070.447−0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher12.4%27.3%−14.9 pts
Graduate degree4.7%9.6%−4.9 pts
Unemployment rate2.3%3.0%−0.7 pts
Labor force participation62.3%61.5%+0.8 pts
Median home value$115,100$183,700−$68,600
Median gross rent$1,058$1,157−$99
Owner-occupied73.0%56.1%+16.9 pts
Housing vacancy rate19.4%11.7%+7.7 pts
Rent-burdened households9.3%48.6%−39.4 pts
Average commute27.315.6+11.7
Worked from home5.0%8.4%−3.4 pts
Public transit to work0.4%0.4%Even
Uninsured10.1%15.0%−4.9 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025