CensusEasy
COUNTY

Merrick County

Nebraska · 7,905 residents (2025 est.) · 487.794 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Grand Island metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#38Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.4%
The short version

Merrick County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,354. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $175,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,724
−6%since 2000
from 8,204 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
16 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 16 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.2
+10%since 2000
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,905 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K8K8K8K1990201020202024Merrick County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.5%(423)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(525)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(476)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(463)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(369)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(890)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(903)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(862)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(1,129)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.5%(966)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.6%(509)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(209)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,354
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,961 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,170
+133%since 2000
from $15,958 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.5%
+26.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
+20%since 2010
from 0.378 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,900
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$750
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $401 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.2%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
17.8% rent
Vacancy rate
10.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.8%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.1%
+15.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+53%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
55
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Merrick County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(7,973)
Black0.2%(17)
Hispanic / Latino2%(168)
Asian0.1%(11)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(6,992)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(435)
Asian0.7%(57)
Other3.1%(240)
Diversity Score
22
+131%since 2009
from 10 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−6%since 2020
from 18 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.2%(328)
Puerto Rican0.5%(36)
Cuban0.3%(26)
Guatemalan0.2%(19)
Nicaraguan0.1%(11)
Asian origin
Korean0.3%(26)
Asian Indian0.3%(21)
Taiwanese0.1%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(3)
Ancestry
German45.2%(3,495)
Irish10.6%(817)
English8.5%(653)
Polish6.8%(527)
Swedish5.1%(395)
American4.4%(343)
Czech3.6%(276)
Danish2.1%(159)
Dutch1.5%(117)
Scottish1.4%(106)
Norwegian0.9%(66)
Welsh0.6%(50)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.6%(47)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(41)
French0.5%(35)
British0.4%(32)
Swiss0.4%(29)
Russian0.2%(15)
Austrian0.1%(8)
Slovak0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.4 min
+52%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.4%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 68.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.3%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.8%
−20.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−85.3 ptssince 2013
from 90.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.5%
+20.0 ptssince 2017
from 68.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.3%(872)
Married60.1%(1,919)
Widowed1.4%(46)
Divorced11.2%(358)
Women 15+
Never married20.4%(633)
Married60.5%(1,879)
Widowed10.3%(319)
Divorced8.8%(274)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Merrick County

Adair County
Pop 7,403
Hamilton County
Pop 7,859
Caribou County
Pop 7,252
Kit Carson County
Pop 7,069
Places similar to Merrick County
Head to head

Compare Merrick County to nearby counties

MERRICK COUNTY VS
Nance County
Income$65,179−5%
Home value$132,000−25%
Population3,290−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERRICK COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income$83,994+23%
Home value$253,700+44%
Population9,678+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERRICK COUNTY VS
Polk County
Income$69,768+2%
Home value$189,900+8%
Population5,270−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERRICK COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income$76,767+12%
Home value$209,100+19%
Population6,538−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Merrick County, Nebraska?

Merrick County, Nebraska has about 7,724 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska?

The typical household in Merrick County, Nebraska earns about $68,354 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Merrick County, Nebraska expensive?

In Merrick County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $175,900, and the typical rent is about $750 a month.

How educated are people in Merrick County, Nebraska?

About 18.3% of adults age 25 and over in Merrick County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Merrick County, Nebraska?

About 7.9% of people in Merrick County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Merrick County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Merrick County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 318 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9668Census Tract 9667Census Tract 9666
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 68826ZIP 68864ZIP 68628ZIP 68663ZIP 68827ZIP 68816
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Nebraska
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →