Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Merrill, WI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

9,356

Median Agei

41.9

Race & Ethnicityi

White

91.3%8,543

Hispanic/Latino

4%377

Two or More

4%370

Black

0.5%45

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%11

Asian

0.1%10

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.6%247

High School Diploma

39.4%2,688

Some College (<1 yr)

9%613

Some College (1+ yr)

14.8%1,010

Associate's Degree

10.5%714

Bachelor's Degree

8.8%598

Master's Degree

4.9%334

Professional Degree

0.5%33

Doctorate

0.9%63

HS or Higher

92.2%

BA or Higher

15%

Graduate+

6.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$123,800

Median Renti

$771

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

61.1%2,674

Renter-Occupied

38.9%1,700

Total Units

4,650

Homeownership

61.1%

Vacancy Rate

5.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

3.7%99

$50K–$100K

22.1%590

$100K–$150K

36.3%970

$150K–$200K

16.9%452

$200K–$300K

15.4%411

$300K–$500K

5.4%145

$500K–$1M

0.3%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$53,148

Mean Household Incomei

$67,624

Per Capita Incomei

$31,796

Poverty Ratei

17%

Unemploymenti

4.2%

Labor Forcei

4,772

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

9.1%397

$10K–$15K

8.1%356

$15K–$20K

4.9%216

$20K–$25K

5%217

$25K–$30K

2.9%128

$30K–$35K

3.2%140

$35K–$40K

6.1%265

$40K–$45K

3.1%134

$45K–$50K

5.4%237

$50K–$60K

7.5%329

$60K–$75K

9.4%412

$75K–$100K

12.4%542

$100K–$125K

8.9%390

$125K–$150K

3.3%143

$150K–$200K

8%349

$200K+

2.7%119

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

282

Residentsi

346

Avg. Tenant Renti

$385/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

10 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers39 homes71% occupied$334/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8243 homes83% occupied$393/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $53,148/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

73.6%

Very low income$16K–$27K/yr

25.5%

Low income$27K–$43K/yr

0.9%

Who Receives This Housing

74.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

3.5% of subsidized households are minority

32.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

53.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2072.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

India

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

4,426

Avg. Commutei

18.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

4,573

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

415(5.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.9%Insured

4.1%Uninsured