City · Wisconsin
Merrill, Wisconsin
Merrill, city, in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. Merrill had 9,389 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,347 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,356 (±22). GEOID 5551250.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,389
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,347 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,356 ±22
Median household income
$53,148
±$7,757 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$123,800
±$8,467 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$771
±$60 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Merrill and what county is it in?
Merrill is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. It covers 7.5 square miles of land, 1,249 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Merrill, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,389 people lived in Merrill on July 1, 2025, up 0.4% since 2020, slower than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 9,347 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,356 (±22).
| Measure | Merrill | Lincoln County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,356 ±22 | 28,426 | +248 |
| Households | 4,374 ±208 | 12,772 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.08 ±0.10 | 2.18 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,650 ±234 | 16,327 | no clear change |
Merrill's population since 2000
From 10,146 in 2000 to 9,389 in 2025: down 7.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Merrill 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 Merrill?
The median resident of Merrill is 41.9 years old; 17.8% are under 18 and 21.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.0%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Merrill | Lincoln County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 ±2.6 | 49.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.8% ±1.8 pts | 17.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.8% ±2.8 pts | 23.6% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±2.6 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.0% ±1.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.3% ±1.9 pts | 93.0% | −4.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±1.4 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2% ±0.9 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.5% ±1.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.4% ±1.6 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 14.2% ±2.7 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1% ±1.3 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.2% ±2.5 pts | 92.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.0% ±3.4 pts | 19.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.3% ±2.1 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.4% ±3.0 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±1.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 Merrill earn?
Half of Merrill's 4,374 households earn less than $53,148 a year (±$7,757), against $68,164 in Lincoln County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $59,269 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Merrill | Lincoln County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,148 ±$7,757 | $68,164 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,624 ±$5,471 | $85,455 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,796 ±$2,122 | $39,326 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.4% ±4.0 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.2% ±10.3 pts | 13.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 20.7% ±4.5 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.7% ±2.7 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.3% ±3.2 pts | 86.2% | – |
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 Merrill?
Owners occupy 61.1% of Merrill's occupied homes and renters 38.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $123,800 by its owner (±$8,467). The median renter pays $771 a month including utilities, and 43.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Merrill | Lincoln County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $123,800 ±$8,467 | $192,700 | +$18,822 |
| Median gross rent | $771 ±$60 | $755 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.8% ±9.8 pts | 39.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,095 ±$86 | $1,361 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.1% ±5.0 pts | 79.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.9% ±5.0 pts | 20.5% | – |
| Housing units | 4,650 ±234 | 16,327 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.3% ±4.4 pts | 81.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.5% ±1.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.8% ±2.1 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.3% ±5.4 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.6% ±2.8 pts | 4.7% | – |
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 Merrill building?
Builders took permits for 14 new housing units in Merrill in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 1.5 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
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 Merrill work and get to work?
75.6% of Merrill's workers drive alone and 11.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Merrill | Lincoln County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.3% ±3.4 pts | 58.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±2.0 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.6% ±4.5 pts | 78.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.2% ±2.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.6% ±1.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.4% ±4.0 pts | 11.6% | +8.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.4 min ±2.1 | 22.5 min | no clear change |
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 Merrill?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Merrill, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $48,846 (Tract 9610) to $57,349 (Tract 9608).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9608Lincoln County | 3,652 | $57,349 |
| Tract 9610Lincoln County | 3,646 | $48,846 |
| Tract 9609Lincoln County | 2,512 | $52,098 |
| Tract 9607Lincoln County | 4,208 | $79,744 |
| Tract 9606Lincoln County | 4,134 | $91,004 |
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 Merrill) · Census block assignment files
How does Merrill compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Merrill is the 3,345th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 104th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Merrill ranks 875th of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 104th | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 491st | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 152nd | 914 |
| Median household income | 875th | 914 |
| Per capita income | 840th | 911 |
| Median home value | 893rd | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 730th | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 58th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 831st | 914 |
| Median age | 587th | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 812th | 914 |
| Work from home | 441st | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 796th | 914 |
Merrill's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Merrill 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 Merrill?
11 of the 57 figures for Merrill 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 Merrill 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 Merrill.