Merrill, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 846, Merrill's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Merrill is a small community located in Iowa, within Plymouth County. The total population is 846. It ranks as the 331st most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Merrill is 36.9 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Merrill is $82,969. This is 11% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.9%. This is 56% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $166,100. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Merrill is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Merrill has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.1%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

13.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Merrill, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.