City · Kansas
Merriam, Kansas
Merriam, city, in Johnson County, Kansas. Merriam had 11,509 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,098 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 11,085 (±31). GEOID 2046000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
11,509
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,098 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,085 ±31
Median household income
$73,600
±$3,614 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$263,300
±$10,529 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$1,181
±$47 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
Where is Merriam and what county is it in?
Merriam is a city in Johnson County, Kansas. It covers 4.3 square miles of land, 2,571 residents per square mile in 2020.
Merriam is in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 14 counties (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 Merriam, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 11,509 people lived in Merriam on July 1, 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than Kansas (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 11,098 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 11,085 (±31).
| Measure | Merriam | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,085 ±31 | 620,631 | −100 |
| Households | 5,324 ±296 | 249,531 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.05 ±0.12 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,537 ±296 | 259,655 | no clear change |
Merriam's population since 2000
From 11,008 in 2000 to 11,509 in 2025: up 4.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Merriam as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Merriam?
The median resident of Merriam is 39.3 years old; 17.8% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.8%. 7.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Merriam | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 ±2.5 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.8% ±2.8 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.7% ±2.7 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Male | 50.8% ±2.5 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.8% ±2.4 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.4% ±3.9 pts | 76.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.4% ±3.3 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.8 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| 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% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±1.3 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.4% ±2.4 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.1% ±3.7 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±2.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.8% ±2.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.8% ±2.5 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.3% ±1.2 pts | 96.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 45.6% ±4.1 pts | 57.6% | +10.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.2% ±3.1 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.6% ±2.7 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 4.0% | – |
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 Merriam earn?
Half of Merriam's 5,324 households earn less than $73,600 a year (±$3,614), against $109,208 in Johnson County and $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $78,526 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Merriam | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,600 ±$3,614 | $109,208 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,985 ±$6,941 | $146,136 | – |
| Per capita income | $44,272 ±$3,678 | $60,137 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.0% ±1.7 pts | 5.4% | −5.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.9% ±3.3 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.4% ±1.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.5% ±0.8 pts | 97.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.3% ±1.8 pts | 95.9% | – |
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 Merriam?
Owners occupy 60.7% of Merriam's occupied homes and renters 39.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $263,300 by its owner (±$10,529). The median renter pays $1,181 a month including utilities, and 35.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Merriam | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $263,300 ±$10,529 | $391,200 | +$54,820 |
| Median gross rent | $1,181 ±$47 | $1,434 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.2% ±8.8 pts | 32.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,609 ±$52 | $2,254 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.7% ±3.6 pts | 68.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.3% ±3.6 pts | 31.5% | – |
| Housing units | 5,537 ±296 | 259,655 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.0% ±3.0 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 59.6% ±3.8 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.5% ±1.6 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.0% ±2.2 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.9% ±1.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
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 many new homes is Merriam building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Merriam in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 0.3 per 1,000 residents against 3.5 across Kansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Merriam work and get to work?
72.6% of Merriam's workers drive alone and 19.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | Merriam | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.0% ±3.0 pts | 71.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±3.0 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.6% ±4.1 pts | 69.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.5% ±2.1 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.2% ±1.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.6% ±3.2 pts | 22.4% | +15.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.2 min ±2.4 | 20.6 min | +3.6 min |
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 Merriam?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Merriam, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $55,208 (Tract 520.04) to $89,583 (Tract 522.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 522.01Johnson County | 3,559 | $89,583 |
| Tract 504Johnson County | 5,128 | $75,964 |
| Tract 520.01Johnson County | 2,262 | $70,372 |
| Tract 521.01Johnson County | 1,670 | $63,824 |
| Tract 520.04Johnson County | 1,609 | $55,208 |
| Tract 505Johnson County | 2,605 | $98,600 |
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 Merriam) · Census block assignment files
How does Merriam compare with other places in Kansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Merriam is the 2,908th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 32nd-most populous of 625 in Kansas.
Merriam ranks 167th of 374 places in Kansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 32nd | 625 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 52nd | 373 |
| Residents per square mile | 10th | 376 |
| Median household income | 167th | 374 |
| Per capita income | 70th | 375 |
| Median home value | 68th | 370 |
| Median gross rent | 58th | 333 |
| Poverty rate | 216th | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44th | 374 |
| Median age | 191st | 376 |
| Owner-occupied share | 327th | 374 |
| Work from home | 21st | 233 |
| Travel time to work | 151st | 375 |
Merriam's figures with every place in Kansas (CSV)
Every place in Kansas, sortable · Compare Merriam 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 Merriam?
9 of the 57 figures for Merriam 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 Merriam 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' public schools in Merriam.