Merrick County, NE Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,821 | 1,957,609 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 15.8 | 25.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.18% | 0.63% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.9 | 38.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 3,210 | 786,867 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Merrick County grew by 0.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 7,696 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Merrick County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,202 | $74,987 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.62% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.0% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Merrick County is about 14% lower than in Nebraska.
Housing
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $218,750 | $167,658 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $772 | $1,035 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.6% | 66.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Merrick County is about 23.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $772 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Merrick County spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 144 hours, about 6.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.2 | 16.9 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.5 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 144 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,453 | $4,376 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 10.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,320 | 5,179 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 587 | 691 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Nebraska:
Garfield County (6.8 min), Garden County (7.1 min), Box Butte County (7.8 min).
Slowest:
Cass County (28.7 min), Saunders County (26.4 min), Howard County (25.9 min).
The average commute time in Merrick County is about the same as in Nebraska.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Merrick County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 30.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.36 | 2.43 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Nebraska:
Sarpy County (0.3), Lancaster County (0.3), Douglas County (0.3).
Lowest:
Dakota County (0.2), Colfax County (0.2), Dawson County (0.2).
Health
Merrick County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.8 | 79.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.4% | 12.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.1% | 16.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Nebraska:
Wayne County (0.8), Sarpy County (0.8), Lancaster County (0.8).
Lowest:
Thurston County (0.8), Pawnee County (0.8), Dundy County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Merrick County, Nebraska.
What is the population of Merrick County, Nebraska?
The population of Merrick County, Nebraska is 7,821, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Merrick County, Nebraska?
The population density of Merrick County, Nebraska is 15.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska?
The median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska is $64,202, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Merrick County, Nebraska?
The median home price in Merrick County, Nebraska is $218,750, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Merrick County, Nebraska?
The unemployment rate in Merrick County, Nebraska is 1.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.