CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Merrick County

Nebraska · 7,668 residents · 487.794 sq mi
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The short version

Merrick County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $52,254. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $119,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,668
−7%since 2000
from 8,204 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.8
+9%since 2000
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K8K8K8K1990201020202024Merrick County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.8%(443)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(515)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.2%(552)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.3%(482)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(348)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.4%(798)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411%(844)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.1%(924)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.9%(1,139)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.8%(901)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847%(534)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(188)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,254
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,961 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,476
+72%since 2000
from $15,958 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
33.4%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction13%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade12.5%
US avg: 10%
Information9.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services8.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration7.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,900
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$689
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $401 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
76.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
23.4% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+36%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(6,941)
Black0.5%(41)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(372)
Asian0.4%(29)
Other1.4%(107)
Segregation Score
18
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
Mexican3.3%(256)
Guatemalan1.5%(120)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.7%(58)
Korean0.3%(23)
Japanese0.1%(7)
Chinese0.1%(5)
Ancestry
German42%(3,289)
Irish10.5%(823)
Swedish7.3%(573)
Polish6.9%(543)
English5.1%(400)
Czech4.7%(365)
American4.2%(326)
Danish4%(315)
Dutch1.6%(123)
French1.5%(119)
Scottish1.3%(101)
Norwegian0.8%(64)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.8%(59)
Welsh0.7%(57)
British0.4%(32)
Finnish0.4%(29)
Swiss0.3%(25)
Italian0.3%(20)
Russian0.2%(19)
Austrian0.2%(12)
Belgian0.1%(8)
Syrian0.1%(7)
Hungarian0.1%(6)
Greek0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Swedish population · Largest Polish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.5%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.1 min
+35%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
86.3%
+11.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.8%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 68.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
37.1%
−23.9 ptssince 2009
from 61.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.8%
−82.8 ptssince 2013
from 90.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
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

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Pop 7,403
Hamilton County
Pop 7,859
Caribou County
Pop 7,252
Kit Carson County
Pop 7,069
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Head to head

Compare Merrick County to nearby counties

MERRICK COUNTY VS
Nance County
Income$65,179+25%
Home value$132,000+10%
Population3,290−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERRICK COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income$83,994+61%
Home value$253,700+112%
Population9,678+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERRICK COUNTY VS
Polk County
Income$69,768+34%
Home value$189,900+58%
Population5,270−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERRICK COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income$76,767+47%
Home value$209,100+74%
Population6,538−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Merrick County, Nebraska?

Merrick County, Nebraska has about 7,668 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Merrick County, Nebraska earns about $52,254 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 $119,900, and the typical rent is about $689 a month.

How educated are people in Merrick County, Nebraska?

About 17.0% 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 12.2% 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 374 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9668Census Tract 9667Census Tract 9666
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 68826ZIP 68864ZIP 68628ZIP 68663ZIP 68827ZIP 68816
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →