City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Merrydale, LA

Merrydale's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

9,149
Residents
$41,986
Median income
$124,300
Median home
$1,007
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Merrydale.

Place dossier plate

Sheet LA-MERRYDALE-LA · Merrydale, LA 9,149 pop · income 10th pct

POP-TOWN · INC-LOW · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-TOWN 9,149
  • INC-LOW $41,986
  • COL-BELOW 88.2
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 10th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ West Columbia
  • HOME-LOW $124,300
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: West Columbia, TX ( $1 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Merrydale

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Merrydale on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Merrydale on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 9,149.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $41,986. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Merrydale - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Merrydale lands in the 10th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

10th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
16th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Merrydale, LA

Merrydale is a small town in Louisiana, home to 9,149 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $41,986 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.9%. Home values in Merrydale run a median of $124,300, and the median resident age is 35.6 years. About 16.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 42.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: the state registers 88.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,007 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Louisiana run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 62.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Merrydale's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to comparison shortlist to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Merrydale, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates, annual population history, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Merrydale?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.0 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 25.9%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

2. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Merrydale?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Louisiana, the closest population matches are Eunice (9,261 residents, $36,356 income); Harahan (8,939 residents, $78,222 income); Denham Springs (9,362 residents, $77,418 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Forestdale, AL (9,149 residents); Fairfield Glade, TN (9,149 residents); Old Orchard Beach, ME (9,150 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 3

What does the journey to work look like in Merrydale?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 66.3%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

Population

9,149 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$41,986 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 25.9% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Very affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

City profile score · Merrydale, LA

32/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living A+
88.2 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
16.9%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$41,986

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
25.9%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Merrydale profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share, Household income, Poverty rate. Cost of livingBachelor's+ shareHousehold incomePoverty rate 32 F
Merrydale profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 92/100 (A+) · 88.2 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 25/100 (F) · 16.9%
  • Household income: 9/100 (F) · $41,986
  • Poverty rate: 5/100 (F) · 25.9%

How does Merrydale compare to other US cities?

Here's how Merrydale stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 16% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Merrydale against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Louisiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Louisiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Merrydale near the bottom of Louisiana's cities

Among the 477 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Merrydale ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Merrydale only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#281 of 426
34th percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 477
0th percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#240 of 419
43rd percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#121 of 475
75th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#196 of 477
59th percentile in Louisiana
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

10thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

10th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Merrydale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$124,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Merrydale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Merrydale's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.0×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#6,475 of 15,516
More affordable than 58% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#5,510 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.0×, Merrydale sits in the affordable band: national rank #6,475 of 15,516 and #5,510 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$41,986 Merrydale, LA median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Merrydale, LA Merrydale, LA's median household income ($41,986) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Merrydale, LA-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Merrydale, LA median $41,986/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Merrydale, LA median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Merrydale, LA.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,149
Median Income
$41,986
Median Home Value
$124,300
Median Age
35.6
Poverty Rate
25.9%
Labor force participation
42.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.9%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.3%
Carpool
21.2%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
11.0%
Other
0.8%

Based on 2,761 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Louisiana statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $212

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Louisiana at $212 (electricity about $130 , water and sewer about $42 ).

These are Louisiana statewide averages, not a meter reading for Merrydale. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Louisiana's BEA cost-of-living index is 88.2 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Merrydale is $1,007/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Louisiana statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 62.4 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Louisiana statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Merrydale sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Merrydale compares to similar-size Louisiana cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Merrydale (this city) 9,149 $41,986
Eunice 9,261 $36,356
Harahan 8,939 $78,222
Denham Springs 9,362 $77,418
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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