City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Merton, WI

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

3,495
Residents
$168,661
Median income
$539,900
Median home
$1,338
Median rent (state)

Merton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Merton places in the 96th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

96th
percentile, household income
86th
percentile, home value
49th
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: Merton, WI

Wisconsin's Merton is a small town, with 3,495 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Merton households earn a median of $168,661 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.8%. Home values in Merton run a median of $539,900, and the median resident age is 40.4 years. About 60.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 74.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 21 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 31% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: the state registers 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,338 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 88.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

3,495 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$168,661 /yr

Poverty 0.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Merton compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 96% higher than other cities
Home value 86% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% 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 Merton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Merton's strongest outlier among Wisconsin cities

Among the 754 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Merton ranks #10 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Merton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#6 of 753
99th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#56 of 761
82nd percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#10 of 754
99th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#658 of 761
13th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#26 of 761
96th percentile in Wisconsin

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

96thIncome percentile

96th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Merton's home value compares nationally

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

$539,900 14th percentile more affordable than 14% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Merton $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 - Merton, WI Merton, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Merton, WI-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 Merton, WI median $168,661/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%
Merton, WI'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 Merton, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 60.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.3%

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

Population
3,495
Median Income
$168,661
Median Home Value
$539,900
Median Age
40.4
Poverty Rate
0.8%
Labor force participation
74.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
60.9%

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 →
3,400 residents3,500 residents3,600 residents3,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,449 residents 3,676 residents ▲ +6.6%
Merton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
21
housing units authorized
Single-Family
21
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 16
2020 5
2021 18
2022 26
2023 18
2024 21

Permit volume increased 31% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.8%
Carpool
5.3%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
20.1%
Other
2.0%

Based on 1,975 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,338/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Sauk City
3,500 people
Black River Falls
3,514 people
Lake Delton
3,522 people
Waterloo
3,542 people
Tomahawk
3,416 people
Peshtigo
3,404 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Merton's 3,495 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hanover, MN
3,495 people
Myrtle Creek, OR
3,495 people
Waterford, CT
3,496 people
Gibbstown, NJ
3,494 people
Muttontown, NY
3,496 people
Wayne Heights, PA
3,496 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Merton's $168,661 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Crisman, CO
$168,750 median income
Jupiter Inlet Colony, FL
$168,750 median income
Green Spring, KY
$168,750 median income
Glendale, MO
$168,750 median income
Pimmit Hills, VA
$168,548 median income
Burlingame, CA
$168,832 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Merton, WI 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 Merton, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.2% White 93.2% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 3.1% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 2.7% 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 Merton compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Merton (this city) 3,495 $168,661
Sauk City 3,500 $82,813
Black River Falls 3,514 $57,712
Lake Delton 3,522 $42,386
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Merton, WI?

What is the population of Merton, WI? +

Merton, WI has a population of 3,495 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Merton, WI? +

Merton households earn a median of $168,661 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Merton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Merton; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Merton, WI? +

A typical home in Merton is worth $539,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.