Census-designated place · Louisiana
Merrydale, Louisiana
Merrydale, census-designated place, in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Merrydale had 9,490 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,631). GEOID 2249940.
Residents, 2020-2024
9,490
±1,631 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 9,227
Median household income
$41,500
±$20,680 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $60,756
Median home value
$136,100
±$26,517 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $216,500
Median gross rent
$1,311
±$156 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $1,064
Where is Merrydale and what county is it in?
Merrydale is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. It covers 4.2 square miles of land, 2,175 residents per square mile in 2020.
Merrydale is in the Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 10 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 Merrydale, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Merrydale's population at 9,490 (±1,631). The 2020 Census counted 9,227 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Merrydale is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Merrydale | East Baton Rouge Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,490 ±1,631 | 452,938 | no clear change |
| Households | 3,372 ±499 | 177,295 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.81 ±0.25 | 2.47 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,772 ±519 | 206,591 | no clear change |
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 Merrydale?
The median resident of Merrydale is 38.8 years old; 27.6% are under 18 and 17.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 96.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 1.7%.
| Measure | Merrydale | East Baton Rouge Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 ±5.7 | 34.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.6% ±5.1 pts | 22.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.6% ±3.6 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Male | 42.0% ±5.3 pts | 47.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% ±2.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 41.6% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 96.8% ±2.2 pts | 43.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6% ±4.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7% ±3.5 pts | 14.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4% ±3.7 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.8% ±7.3 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.9% ±5.4 pts | 38.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.4% ±3.3 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1% ±6.7 pts | 84.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±1.9 pts | 2.2% | – |
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 Merrydale earn?
Half of Merrydale's 3,372 households earn less than $41,500 a year (±$20,680), against $63,071 in East Baton Rouge Parish and $60,756 in Louisiana. In 2015-2019 it was $45,432 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 30.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Merrydale | East Baton Rouge Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,500 ±$20,680 | $63,071 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $57,762 ±$13,748 | $95,663 | – |
| Per capita income | $20,468 ±$4,358 | $38,736 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 30.0% ±10.4 pts | 19.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 28.0% ±17.9 pts | 24.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 24.9% ±8.1 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 85.2% ±8.2 pts | 95.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.1% ±7.5 pts | 91.1% | – |
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 Merrydale?
Owners occupy 73.7% of Merrydale's occupied homes and renters 26.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,100 by its owner (±$26,517). The median renter pays $1,311 a month including utilities, and 36.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Merrydale | East Baton Rouge Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $136,100 ±$26,517 | $248,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,311 ±$156 | $1,147 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.6% ±19.2 pts | 48.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,189 ±$291 | $1,703 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.7% ±7.9 pts | 59.3% | +12.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.3% ±7.9 pts | 40.7% | – |
| Housing units | 3,772 ±519 | 206,591 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±1.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.3% ±9.1 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 89.9% ±4.4 pts | 61.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% ±2.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.1% ±5.1 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.2% ±5.9 pts | 8.1% | – |
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 Merrydale work and get to work?
55.5% of Merrydale's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 19.5%.
| Measure | Merrydale | East Baton Rouge Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.1% ±6.2 pts | 63.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 19.5% ±7.6 pts | 7.7% | +9.3 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 55.5% ±13.6 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 32.9% ±10.1 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1% ±1.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.0% ±9.6 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.7 min ±3.7 | 23.6 min | +4.9 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 Merrydale?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Merrydale, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $36,840 (Tract 35.04) to $53,295 (Tract 35.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 35.04East Baton Rouge Parish | 7,037 | $36,840 |
| Tract 35.05East Baton Rouge Parish | 2,823 | $53,295 |
| Tract 34East Baton Rouge Parish | 6,235 | $33,375 |
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 Merrydale) · Census block assignment files
How does Merrydale compare with other places in Louisiana?
Merrydale ranks 184th of 251 places in Louisiana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 61st | 263 |
| Residents per square mile | 37th | 263 |
| Median household income | 184th | 251 |
| Per capita income | 228th | 263 |
| Median home value | 171st | 247 |
| Median gross rent | 36th | 229 |
| Poverty rate | 65th | 216 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 135th | 229 |
| Median age | 113th | 262 |
| Owner-occupied share | 108th | 260 |
| Travel time to work | 93rd | 260 |
Merrydale's figures with every place in Louisiana (CSV)
Every place in Louisiana, sortable · Compare Merrydale 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 Merrydale?
20 of the 57 figures for Merrydale 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 Merrydale 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.