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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
Population density
16 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 17 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.8
+9%since 2000
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K8K8K8K1990201020202024Merrick County
20248K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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
+24%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score5.9%(482)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(6,941)
Black0.5%(41)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(372)
Asian0.4%(29)
Other1.4%(107)
Diversity Score17.3%(1,327)
Segregation Score17.7%(1,356)
Diversity Score
17
+195%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
18
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%
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+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 →