What are the schools like in Merrill, IA?

School district data for Merrill is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Merrill?

The median household income in Merrill, IA is $76,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Merrill, IA?

Merrill has an average high temperature of 27.2°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.9 inches.

Merrill, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Merrill, IA affordable or expensive?

Merrill's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Merrill is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $152,100 and the median rent is $588 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Merrill, IA?

Merrill has a violent crime rate of 83.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 464.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Merrill, IA a Good Place to Live?

Merrill is a small town of 960 in Iowa, with a median household income of $76,250 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Merrill stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Merrill is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Merrill city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.1

Merrill's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Merrill costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Merrill, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$152,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$588	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$76,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Merrill's violent crime rate is 83.4 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

83.4 /100k

Property Crime

464.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Merrill, IA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Merrill sees average highs of 27.2°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 30.0 inches of annual precipitation and 30.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Merrill, IA
Average High — January	27.2°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	30.0"
Annual Snowfall	30.9"

Demographics

Metric	Merrill, IA	National Avg
Population	960	—
Median Age	34.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	29.6%	22.2%
65 and over	13.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Le Mars, IA 6 mi Brunsville, IA 6 mi Hinton, IA 7 mi Oyens, IA 12 mi Struble, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Merrill

Merrill, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51038

Merrill vs Other Cities

Merrill, IA vs Le Mars, IA Merrill, IA vs Brunsville, IA Merrill, IA vs Hinton, IA Merrill, IA vs Oyens, IA Merrill, IA vs Struble, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merrill, IA affordable or expensive?

Merrill's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Merrill roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $152,100 and median rent is $588/month.

What is the crime rate in Merrill, IA?

Merrill's violent crime rate is 83.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 464.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Merrill?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Merrill, IA a good place to live?

Merrill, IA has a population of 960, a median household income of $76,250, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Merrill?

Merrill averages 27.2°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.0 inches with about 30.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Merrill?

Merrill, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51038.

What is the population of Merrill?

The population of Merrill, Iowa is 960 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Merrill?

Key numbers for living in Merrill: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $152,100, median household income $76,250, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Merrill side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.