Merrick County, Nebraska Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Merrick County, Nebraska, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Merrick County, Nebraska. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Merrick County, Nebraska. The estimated population of Merrick County, Nebraska is 7,687 people, with a median age of 43.3.

We can look at the total population in Merrick County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
7,687
 -1.78% -1.81%
2020
7,826
+0.36%
-
2019
7,798
 -0.06% -
2018
7,803
 -0.33% -
2017
7,829
 - -

Population of Merrick County, Nebraska by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
91.5%
92.9%
 -1.51%
Black/African American
0.1%
0.6%
 -83.33%
Native
0%
0.2%
 -100.00%
Hispanic
5.1%
4.1%
 +24.39%
Asian
0.8%
0.1%
 +700.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.5%
2.1%
 +19.05%
Other
0%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Merrick County, Nebraska by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 43.3 +0.46% 43.5 +0.46% 43.1 +0.47%
2020 43.1 -1.15% 43.3 -0.92% 42.9 -1.15%
2019 43.6 0% 43.7 -0.23% 43.4 0%
2018 43.6 +0.23% 43.8 +1.15% 43.4 -0.91%
2017 43.5 - 43.3 - 43.8 -

The median age of Merrick County, Nebraska gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 498 -7.62% 485 +3.35% 458 497
10 to 19 480 -4.04% 478 -9.93% 459 422
20 to 29 410 +8.71% 387 +14.05% 445 439
30 to 39 429 +5.49% 467 -22.29% 447 368
40 to 49 480 -8.79% 395 +15.08% 433 455
50 to 59 643 +2.84% 533 +3.85% 661 552
60 to 69 429 +16.97% 509 -12.31% 504 448
70+ 529 -7.17% 677 -10.51% 491 608

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Merrick County, Nebraska is $57,778.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Merrick County.

  • Under 25
    $36,078.00
  • 25 to 44
    $72,500.00
  • 45 to 64
    $68,500.00
  • 65 and over
    $43,277.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Merrick County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Merrick County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Merrick County, Nebraska is currently $69,640.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

1.43% of households in Merrick County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Merrick County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    18.97%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    24.43%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.12%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.36%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.78%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.90%
  • $200,000 or more
    1.43%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Merrick County is $28,545.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Merrick County by the total population of Merrick County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Merrick County, Nebraska, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Merrick County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.08%
  • Bachelor's degree
    18.81%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    13.82%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    58.97%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.31%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Merrick County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Merrick County over the age of 16 is 6,181.

Of those people, a total of 66.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Merrick County is 65.30%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 330 48.50% 0.60%
20 to 24 years 418 84.40% 5.40%
25 to 29 years 466 75.10% 2.00%
30 to 34 years 411 87.80% 1.90%
35 to 44 years 867 88.20% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 916 83.50% 0.10%
55 to 59 years 722 88.10% 2.40%
60 to 64 years 426 73.70% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 909 35.20% 0.00%
75 years and over 716 8.90% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Merrick County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 5,905 66.10% 1.30%
Black or African American 7 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 2 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 65 76.90% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 80 81.30% 0.00%
Two or more races 122 59.00% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 244 55.70% 9.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 5,764 66.80% 1.00%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Merrick County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Merrick County is 4,038, with median earnings of $36,445.00.

Women in Merrick County, Nebraska earning approximately 65.50% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 4,038 $36,445.00
Male 2,184 $43,038.00
Female 1,854 $28,210.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 597 $50,820.00
Business and Financial 129 $46,094.00
Computer and Mathematical 62 $86,250.00
Architecture and Engineering 12 $43,750.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 13 $39,750.00
Community and Social Service 92 $65,662.00
Legal 7 $0.00
Educational and Library 213 $15,625.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 60 $21,447.00
Healthcare Practitioners 276 $44,737.00
Healthcare Support 147 $21,985.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 17 $50,625.00
Law Enforcement 45 $34,583.00
Food Preparation and Serving 214 $16,447.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 78 $30,119.00
Personal Care and Service 82 $16,250.00
Sales 302 $36,310.00
Office and Administrative Support 454 $31,932.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 142 $36,875.00
Construction and Extraction 127 $41,750.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 262 $47,091.00
Production 284 $34,417.00
Transportation and Material Moving 251 $37,992.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 447 $52,716.00 150 $34,706.00
Business and Financial 42 $44,375.00 87 $48,125.00
Computer and Mathematical 33 $0.00 29 $85,982.00
Architecture and Engineering 7 $54,375.00 5 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 8 $44,167.00 5 $0.00
Community and Social Service 21 $64,107.00 71 $65,846.00
Legal 0 $0.00 7 $0.00
Educational and Library 33 $55,536.00 180 $12,115.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 30 $21,786.00 30 $21,029.00
Healthcare Practitioners 9 $0.00 267 $44,145.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 147 $21,985.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 15 $51,042.00 2 $0.00
Law Enforcement 45 $34,583.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 44 $6,765.00 170 $20,065.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 57 $30,655.00 21 $26,094.00
Personal Care and Service 11 $33,036.00 71 $11,705.00
Sales 172 $46,316.00 130 $34,500.00
Office and Administrative Support 98 $68,889.00 356 $28,229.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 122 $37,604.00 20 $36,250.00
Construction and Extraction 126 $41,833.00 1 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 262 $47,091.00 0 $0.00
Production 223 $44,375.00 61 $9,250.00
Transportation and Material Moving 225 $38,287.00 26 $27,083.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 3,136 households in Merrick County, with an average household size of 2.41 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 2,042 families in Merrick County with an average family size of 2.94 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 1,713 92 237 1,094
Average Household Size 3.02 3.1 3.06 1.26
Total Families 1,713 92 237 0
Average Household Size 3.02 2.43 2.6 0

Poverty

Of the 2,042 families in Merrick County, 6.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Merrick County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 3,569 housing units in Merrick County, Nebraska.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 3,136 87.87%
Vacant 433 12.13%

17.01% of the total 3,569 housing units in Merrick County are rental units. This is approximately 607 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 2,467 are occupied by the owner - or 69.12% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Merrick County is $734.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Merrick County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    62
  • Less than $500
    94
  • $500 to $999
    378
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    134
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    1
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Merrick County is $138,100.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Merrick County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    220
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    644
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    454
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    575
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    245
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    186
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    140
  • $1,000,000 or more
    3

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Merrick County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Merrick County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,266
  • 1940 to 1949
    133
  • 1950 to 1959
    173
  • 1960 to 1969
    331
  • 1970 to 1979
    579
  • 1980 to 1989
    274
  • 1990 to 1999
    289
  • 2000 to 2009
    299
  • 2010 to 2013
    225
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Merrick County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    106
  • 1 vehicle available
    601
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,033
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,396

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Merrick County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Merrick County that commute to work in a particular way.

20.6 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Merrick County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    554
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    652
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    341
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    382
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    463
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    285
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    439
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    101
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    112
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    190
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    46
  • 90 or more minutes
    100

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Merrick County, Nebraska in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Merrick County, Nebraska

We have data for 14 places in Merrick County, Nebraska. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.