Merrick County, NE

County

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2023 Population

7,696

0.274% 1-year growth

US Senator

Deb Fischer

Republican Party

US Senator

Pete Ricketts

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

42.8

0.465% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

8.74%

14.7% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$62,849

8.6% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$168,000

5.46% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

4,050

1.94% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Merrick County, NE had a population of 7.7k people with a median age of 42.8 and a median household income of $62,849. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Merrick County, NE grew from 7,675 to 7,696, a 0.274% increase and its median household income grew from $57,873 to $62,849, a 8.6% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Merrick County, NE are White (Non-Hispanic) (91.1%), Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) (2.25%), Other (Hispanic) (1.7%), Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) (1.53%), and White (Hispanic) (1.42%).

None of the households in Merrick County, NE reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.1% of the residents in Merrick County, NE are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in Merrick County, NE was $168,000, and the homeownership rate was 80.6%.

Most people in Merrick County, NE drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Merrick County, NE was 2 cars per household.

Merrick County, NE borders Hall County, NE, Hamilton County, NE, Howard County, NE, Nance County, NE, Platte County, NE, and Polk County, NE.

United States Nebraska Grand Island, NE

Population & Diversity

Merrick County, NE is home to a population of 7.7k people, from which 99.1% are citizens. As of 2023, 2.31% of Merrick County, NE residents were born outside of the country (178 people).

In 2023, there were 40.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (7.01k people) in Merrick County, NE than any other race or ethnicity. There were 173 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 131 Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.1%

2023 Citizenship

98.4%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 99.1% of Merrick County, NE residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Merrick County, NE was 98.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Merrick County, NE compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Merrick County, NE

White (Non-Hispanic)
7.01k ± 27
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
173 ± 41
Other (Hispanic)
131 ± 88

5.42%

Hispanic Population

417 people

5.42% of the people in Merrick County, NE are hispanic (417 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Merrick County, NE as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Nebraska.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
46,760 ± 5,245 people
Guatemala
11,721 ± 2,650 people
El Salvador
6,922 ± 2,039 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Nebraska was Mexico, the natal country of 46,760 Nebraska residents, followed by Guatemala with 11,721 and El Salvador with 6,922.

Foreign-Born Population

2.31%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

178 people

3.44%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

264 people

As of 2023, 2.31% of Merrick County, NE residents (178 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Merrick County, NE was 3.44%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Merrick County, NE compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
195 ± 58
Gulf War (2001-)
108 ± 53
Gulf War (1990s)
32 ± 27

Merrick County, NE has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.81 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Merrick County, NE employs 4.05k people. In 2023, the largest industries in Merrick County, NE were Health Care & Social Assistance (591 people), Manufacturing (441 people), and Retail Trade (392 people), and the highest paying industries were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($79,000), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($69,643), and Manufacturing ($54,669).

Employment

Occupations

4.05k

2023 Value

± 311

1.94%

1 Year growth

± 10.6%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Merrick County, NE grew at a rate of 1.94%, from 3.97k employees to 4.05k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Merrick County, NE, are Management Occupations (664 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (481 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (339 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Merrick County, NE.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Nebraska.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Nebraska (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

4.05k

2023 Value

± 311

1.94%

1 Year growth

± 10.6%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Merrick County, NE grew at a rate of 1.94%, from 3.97k employees to 4.05k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Merrick County, NE, are Health Care & Social Assistance (591 people), Manufacturing (441 people), and Retail Trade (392 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Merrick County, NE, though some of these residents may live in Merrick County, NE and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$49,148

Median earning men ± $2,990

$35,573

Median earning women ± $7,002

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($86,731), Wholesale Trade ($62,083), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($60,129).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($57,917), Manufacturing ($54,375), and Information ($44,375).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Nebraska.

Y-Axis

2.25%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.03M people employed in Nebraska. This represents a 2.25% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 8.87%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Nebraska.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

30
Other Services (except Public Administration)
27
Construction
13
Finance and Insurance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$15.8k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$14k
Manufacturing
$13.5k
Construction

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Nebraska went to Donald J. Trump with 59.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.9%), followed by Other (0.849%).

Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are the senators currently representing the state of Nebraska. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Nebraska is currently represented by 3 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Merrick County, NE. Showing the available data for Nebraska.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (59.3%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (38.9%)
Democratic Party
Other (0.849%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Nebraska went to Donald J. Trump with 59.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.9%), followed by Other (0.849%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Nebraska for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Nebraska

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Nebraska.

Deb Fischer

Senator from Nebraska

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Pete Ricketts

Senator from Nebraska

Assumed office on January 12, 2023
Appointed to the seat on January 12, 2023 following the resignation of Ben Sasse.

Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are the senators currently representing Nebraska.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Nebraska over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Nebraska

Nebraska is currently represented by 3 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Nebraska have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Nebraska.

Measure

In 2023, 1.15% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.09% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Nebraska.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2023 were High School or Equivalent (384k), Some college (357k), and Bachelors Degree (313k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Merrick County, NE was $168,000 in 2023, which is 0.554 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $159,300 to $168,000, a 5.46% increase. The homeownership rate in Merrick County, NE is 80.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65%.

People in Merrick County, NE have an average commute time of 20.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Merrick County, NE is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Merrick County, NE is $62,849. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Merrick County, NE was Census Tract 9667, Merrick County, NE with a value of $66,375, followed by Census Tract 9668, Merrick County, NE and Census Tract 9666, Merrick County, NE, with respective values of $62,074 and $58,792.

In 2024, 13.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Merrick County, NE. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator grew 6.21%.

Housing

Property

$168,000

Median Property Value 2023

±$9,144

$2,587

Median Property Taxes

±$244

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Merrick County, NE the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Merrick County, NE compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

80.6%

Homeownership

2023

63.8%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 80.6% of the housing units in Merrick County, NE were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 78.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Merrick County, NE compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9667, Merrick County, NE
Census Tract 9668, Merrick County, NE
Census Tract 9666, Merrick County, NE

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Merrick County, NE was Census Tract 9667, Merrick County, NE with a value of $66,375, followed by Census Tract 9668, Merrick County, NE and Census Tract 9666, Merrick County, NE, with respective values of $62,074 and $58,792.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Merrick County, NE colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$62,849

Median Household Income

± $5,004

3.21k

Number of Households

± 264

In 2023, the median household income of the 3.21k households in Merrick County, NE grew to $62,849 from the previous year's value of $57,873.

The following chart displays the households in Merrick County, NE distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Merrick County, NE is from Nebraska.

0.447

2023 Wage GINI in Nebraska

0.444

2022 Wage GINI in Nebraska

In 2023, the income inequality in Nebraska was 0.447 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.606% growth from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Nebraska was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Nebraska in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Nebraska across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (84.3%)
Carpooled (7.08%)
Worked At Home (4.7%)

In 2023, 84.3% of workers in Merrick County, NE drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (7.08%) and those who worked at home (4.7%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Merrick County, NE have a shorter commute time (20.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.49% of the workforce in Merrick County, NE have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Merrick County, NE compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Merrick County, NE distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Merrick County, NE have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2024, 13.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Merrick County, NE. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator grew 6.21%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

8.74% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Merrick County, NE (661 out of 7.56k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 55 - 64, followed by Males 75+ and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Merrick County, NE is White, followed by Two Or More and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2024, 12.2% of the children was living in poverty in Merrick County, NE. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 3.4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 64.4 in Merrick County, NE. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 77.4 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

92.2% of the population of Merrick County, NE has health coverage, with 44.5% on employee plans, 9.59% on Medicaid, 16.5% on Medicare, 18.9% on non-group plans, and 2.67% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Merrick County, NE see 2,555 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.84% decrease from the previous year (2,603 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1544 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 2574 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 51.3% were men and 48.7% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,555 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Merrick County, NE

Primary care physicians in Merrick County, NE see an average of 2,555 patients per year. This represents a 1.84% decrease from the previous year (2,603 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Merrick County, NE in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.4% under 18 years, 17.3% between 18 and 34 years, 37.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 51.3% were men and 48.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

7.85%

Uninsured

44.5%

Employer Coverage

9.59%

Medicaid

16.5%

Medicare

18.9%

Non-Group

2.67%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Merrick County, NE declined by 10.5% from 8.77% to 7.85%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Merrick County, NE changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.