Merrick County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Merrick County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Merrick County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,565 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,493 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.9% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Merrick County is about 9% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing slower in Merrick County (4.2%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Merrick County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Nebraska average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska grew by 48.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,565 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Merrick County
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.507 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,862 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,789 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.5% | 19.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Merrick County, it is 0.507, lower than Nebraska's 0.515, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Merrick County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $457,555 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Merrick County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 37% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2010, and was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,972 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Merrick County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.9% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 15 people are unemployed in Merrick County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Merrick County is 17 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Merrick County, Nebraska has fallen from 5.3% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.4% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2022.
Merrick County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Merrick County, NE is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,724 residents against a local median of 6,534. Merrick County, NE's unemployment, at 1.0%, runs 56% below the 2.3% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.4% on unemployment, so Merrick County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Merrick County, NE has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrick County, NE | 7,724 | $69,565 #5/6 | 4.2%/yr #4/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.507 #6/6 |
| Nance County, NE | 3,324 | $66,554 | 5.8%/yr | 3.6% | 0.503 |
| Hamilton County, NE | 9,464 | $86,646 | 4.8%/yr | 2.3% | 0.480 |
| Polk County, NE | 5,225 | $70,785 | 2.7%/yr | 1.3% | 0.489 |
| Howard County, NE | 6,534 | $77,518 | 5.0%/yr | 3.8% | 0.476 |
| York County, NE | 14,286 | $76,364 | 4.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Merrick County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Nebraska, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Merrick County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Merrick County, Nebraska?
Merrick County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,565, about 9% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How has median household income changed in Merrick County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska rose 49%, from $46,705 to $69,565. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Nebraska as a whole: +49% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Merrick County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska was $64,210, up 10% from $58,189 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Merrick County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Merrick County, Nebraska was $52,029. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $69,565.
Is it hard to find a job in Merrick County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Merrick County, Nebraska is only 1.0%, well below the Nebraska rate of 3.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Merrick County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Merrick County is 0.507. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Merrick County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Merrick County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 37% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2010, and was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,972 since 2009.
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