City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Merrimac, VA

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

2,955
Residents
$55,202
Median income
$73,400
Median home
$1,271
Median rent (state)

Merrimac - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Merrimac places in the 28th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

28th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
43rd
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: Merrimac, VA

Virginia's Merrimac is a small town, with 2,955 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Merrimac households earn a median of $55,202 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.2%. Merrimac's housing stock carries a median value of $73,400, and the median resident age is 43.1 years. About 42.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 49.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Virginia at 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,271 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 47.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

2,955 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$55,202 /yr

Poverty 6.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Merrimac compare to other US cities?

Merrimac measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 43% 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 Merrimac against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Merrimac near the bottom of Virginia's cities

Among the 567 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Merrimac ranks #556 - the 2nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Merrimac only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#390 of 558
30th percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#290 of 619
51st percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#556 of 567
2nd percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#280 of 616
54th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#180 of 618
71st percentile in Virginia

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

28thIncome percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Merrimac's home value compares nationally

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

$73,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Merrimac $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 - Merrimac, VA Merrimac, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Merrimac, VA-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 Merrimac, VA median $55,202/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%
Merrimac, VA'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 Merrimac, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 42.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.0%

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

Population
2,955
Median Income
$55,202
Median Home Value
$73,400
Median Age
43.1
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Labor force participation
49.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
42.4%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.7%
Carpool
7.0%
Public Transit
11.7%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
8.2%

Based on 1,276 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia 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 Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Merrimac sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,271/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.5 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Wise
2,940 people
Elkton
2,973 people
Grottoes
2,926 people
Timberville
2,998 people
Hillsville
2,869 people
Pearisburg
2,864 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Merrimac's 2,955 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bridgetown, MS
2,955 people
Roslyn, NY
2,955 people
San Miguel CDP (San Luis Obispo County), CA
2,956 people
Desert Aire, WA
2,953 people
Oaklawn-Sunview, KS
2,952 people
Menlo Park Terrace, NJ
2,952 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Merrimac's $55,202 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Laurens, SC
$55,207 median income
Pleasant Hill, IL
$55,208 median income
Berger, MO
$55,208 median income
St. Bonaventure, NY
$55,208 median income
Belle Valley, OH
$55,208 median income
Export, PA
$55,208 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Merrimac, VA 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 Merrimac, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 71.0% 7.5% 10.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.8% White 71.0% Black or African American 4.5% Asian 5.4% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.5% Two or more races 10.5% 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 Merrimac compares to nearby Virginia cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Merrimac (this city) 2,955 $55,202
Wise 2,940 $44,234
Elkton 2,973 $61,385
Grottoes 2,926 $84,508
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Merrimac, VA?

What is the population of Merrimac, VA? +

Merrimac, VA counts 2,955 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Merrimac, VA? +

Median annual household income in Merrimac runs $55,202, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Merrimac? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Merrimac; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Merrimac, VA? +

Merrimac's median home value sits at $73,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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.

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.