City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

Merrill, OR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Merrill - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

985
Residents
$50,469
Median income
$172,900
Median home
$1,247
Median rent (state)

Merrill - the verdict

Merrill ranks in the 20th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

20th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
41st
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: Merrill, OR

Oregon's Merrill is a small town, with 985 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $50,469 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.5%. Home values in Merrill run a median of $172,900, and the median resident age is 30.2 years. About 9.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Oregon carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Oregon scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,247 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Oregon run around $185, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 77.9 out of 100 (High).

Population

985 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oregon

Median Household Income

$50,469 /yr

Poverty 11.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

How does Merrill compare to other US cities?

Where Merrill sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% 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 Merrill against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Oregon only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Oregon-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Merrill near the bottom of Oregon's cities

Among the 366 Oregon cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Merrill ranks #341 - the 7th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Merrill only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#301 of 364
17th percentile in Oregon
Median Gross Rent
#302 of 395
20th percentile in Oregon
Median Home Value
#341 of 366
7th percentile in Oregon
Poverty Rate
#93 of 395
76th percentile in Oregon
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#348 of 395
11th percentile in Oregon

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 Oregon only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

20thIncome percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Merrill's home value compares nationally

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

$172,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% of 15,600 US cities

$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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Merrill $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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Merrill, OR Merrill, OR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Merrill, OR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Merrill, OR median $50,469/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%
Merrill, OR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Merrill, OR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.7%

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

Population
985
Median Income
$50,469
Median Home Value
$172,900
Median Age
30.2
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Labor force participation
55.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.4%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
860 residents865 residents870 residents875 residents 202020212022202320242025 864 residents 865 residents ▲ +0.1%
Merrill's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
91.1%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.3%

Based on 372 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Oregon - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$185
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Oregon state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Oregon state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Merrill sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,247/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oregon

Port Orford
983 people
Siletz
990 people
Lookingglass
994 people
Drain
975 people
Metolius
969 people
Williams
1,030 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Merrill's 985 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Boonville, CA
985 people
Gibson, GA
985 people
Pleasant Hill, IL
985 people
Chevy Chase Section Three, MD
985 people
Flagtown, NJ
985 people
Grand Rapids, OH
985 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Merrill's $50,469 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

North City, IL
$50,469 median income
Jacksonville, TX
$50,469 median income
Collinsville, VA
$50,465 median income
Pahokee, FL
$50,464 median income
Deer Park, MD
$50,481 median income
Galesburg, MI
$50,481 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Merrill, OR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Merrill, OR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.0% 6.4% 16.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 46.0% White 73.0% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.4% Two or more races 16.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Merrill compares to nearby Oregon cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Merrill (this city) 985 $50,469
Port Orford 983 $34,122
Siletz 990 $83,636
Lookingglass 994 $85,813
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Merrill, OR?

What is the population of Merrill, OR? +

The population of Merrill, OR stands at 985 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Merrill, OR? +

Merrill households earn a median of $50,469 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Merrill? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Merrill; the closest available measure is the Oregon state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Oregon vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Merrill, OR? +

Homes in Merrill carry a median value of $172,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

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

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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.