Merrick County, Nebraska Demographics 2026
Merrick County, Nebraska has a population of 7,724, the 38th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $68,354 and the median home value is $175,900. The poverty rate is 7.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Merrick County Quick Facts
How Merrick County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,696 | 7,724 | +0.4% |
| Median household income | $62,849 | $68,354 | +8.8% |
| Median home value | $168,000 | $175,900 | +4.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Merrick County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central City | 3,061 | $73,229 | 4.2% | $165,300 |
| Palmer | 403 | $62,578 | 5.7% | $123,900 |
| Silver Creek | 341 | $51,563 | 7.3% | $98,600 |
| Clarks | 330 | $49,167 | 15.2% | $107,600 |
| Chapman | 290 | $86,250 | 8.3% | $113,800 |
| Archer | 53 | $61,250 | 11.3% | N/A |
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Population Overview
Merrick County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 7,724. It is the 38th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Merrick County is 43.2 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Merrick County is $68,354. This is 11% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.9%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 0.4%. This is 88% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $175,900. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Merrick County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Merrick County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.6%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Merrick County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nebraska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Merrick County, Nebraska?
Merrick County has a population of 7,724, making it the 38th most populous county in Nebraska.
What is the median income in Merrick County?
The median household income in Merrick County is $68,354 with a poverty rate of 7.9%.
How many cities are in Merrick County, Nebraska?
Merrick County contains 6 Census-designated places.