Census-designated place · Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island, census-designated place, in Brevard County, Florida. Merritt Island had 34,992 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±2,107). GEOID 1244275.
Residents, 2020-2024
34,992
±2,107 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 34,518
Median household income
$94,012
±$8,215 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$402,900
±$16,436 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,441
±$77 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
Where is Merritt Island and what county is it in?
Merritt Island is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Brevard County, Florida. It covers 17.0 square miles of land, 2,034 residents per square mile in 2020.
Merritt Island is in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Merritt Island, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Merritt Island's population at 34,992 (±2,107). The 2020 Census counted 34,518 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Merritt Island is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Merritt Island | Brevard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 34,992 ±2,107 | 632,780 | no clear change |
| Households | 14,166 ±678 | 257,695 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.44 ±0.09 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 17,006 ±653 | 299,305 | −997 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Merritt Island?
The median resident of Merritt Island is 50.2 years old; 17.2% are under 18 and 27.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.6%. 6.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Merritt Island | Brevard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 ±1.8 | 46.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.2% ±1.4 pts | 18.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.6% ±1.8 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Male | 50.1% ±1.5 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.6% ±1.5 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.7% ±2.3 pts | 70.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.0 pts | 9.4% | −1.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±1.0 pts | 2.4% | +1.7 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±1.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.7% ±1.1 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.4% ±1.8 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 13.1% ±1.3 pts | 12.6% | – |
| With a disability | 17.9% ±1.8 pts | 16.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6% ±1.9 pts | 9.8% | −2.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.2% ±1.2 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.0% ±2.4 pts | 34.2% | +5.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.3% ±1.7 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.5% ±3.5 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.4% ±2.1 pts | 3.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Merritt Island earn?
Half of Merritt Island's 14,166 households earn less than $94,012 a year (±$8,215), against $78,476 in Brevard County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 the median was $79,829 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,183 after inflation. 7.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Merritt Island | Brevard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $94,012 ±$8,215 | $78,476 | +$14,183 |
| Mean household income | $134,726 ±$9,896 | $105,193 | – |
| Per capita income | $56,114 ±$3,960 | $44,108 | +$10,768 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.4% ±1.7 pts | 10.2% | −3.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.0% ±3.6 pts | 13.9% | −6.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.3% ±1.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.1% ±0.6 pts | 96.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.5% ±1.4 pts | 93.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Merritt Island?
Owners occupy 80.0% of Merritt Island's occupied homes and renters 20.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $402,900 by its owner (±$16,436). The median renter pays $1,441 a month including utilities, and 44.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Merritt Island | Brevard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $402,900 ±$16,436 | $339,600 | +$77,258 |
| Median gross rent | $1,441 ±$77 | $1,556 | +$187 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.1% ±8.5 pts | 47.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,070 ±$145 | $1,805 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.0% ±2.2 pts | 76.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 20.0% ±2.2 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Housing units | 17,006 ±653 | 299,305 | −997 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7% ±1.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 18.3% ±5.7 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.9% ±2.0 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% ±0.8 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.2% ±0.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.0% ±1.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Merritt Island work and get to work?
72.1% of Merritt Island's workers drive alone and 19.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Merritt Island | Brevard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.8% ±2.8 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.1% ±2.6 pts | 74.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.4% ±1.7 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.0% ±2.7 pts | 14.6% | +9.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.3 min ±1.9 | 25.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Merritt Island?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Merritt Island (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $65,901 (Tract 692) to $134,556 (Tract 694).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 694Brevard County | 6,643 | $134,556 |
| Tract 691Brevard County | 4,683 | $104,695 |
| Tract 698.02Brevard County | 3,948 | $69,452 |
| Tract 698.01Brevard County | 3,804 | $129,327 |
| Tract 716.02Brevard County | 3,139 | $70,000 |
| Tract 693Brevard County | 2,949 | $91,927 |
| Tract 699.07Brevard County | 2,873 | $79,464 |
| Tract 697Brevard County | 2,782 | $74,025 |
| Tract 692Brevard County | 2,408 | $65,901 |
| Tract 716.01Brevard County | 2,170 | $74,784 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Merritt Island) · Census block assignment files
How does Merritt Island compare with other places in Florida?
Merritt Island ranks 179th of 754 places in Florida with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 123rd | 766 |
| Residents per square mile | 365th | 770 |
| Median household income | 179th | 754 |
| Per capita income | 159th | 763 |
| Median home value | 252nd | 749 |
| Median gross rent | 425th | 710 |
| Poverty rate | 514th | 634 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 207th | 733 |
| Median age | 224th | 762 |
| Owner-occupied share | 261st | 760 |
| Work from home | 212th | 596 |
| Travel time to work | 507th | 764 |
Merritt Island's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)
Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Merritt Island with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Merritt Island?
7 of the 57 figures for Merritt Island on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Merritt Island are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.