Below Average CostVery SafeEast Baton Rouge Parish
Median Income
$42,873
household / year
Median Home Value
$119,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,122
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100
Is Merrydale, LA a Good Place to Live?
Merrydale is a small town of 8,557 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $42,873
and a 16.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Merrydale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Merrydale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Merrydale 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: 90.8
Merrydale's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Merrydale costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Merrydale, LA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,122
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,873
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Merrydale's violent crime rate is 175.4 per 100,000 residents
— 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
175.4 /100k
Property Crime
1420.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Merrydale is served primarily by East Baton Rouge Parish.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Merrydale, LA
National Avg
School District
East Baton Rouge Parish
—
Elementary Schools
48
—
Middle Schools
12
—
High Schools
14
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Merrydale sees average highs of 62.3°F in January
and 91.9°F in July,
with 61.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Merrydale's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Merrydale roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,200 and median rent is $1,122/month.
Merrydale's violent crime rate is 175.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1420.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Merrydale are operated by East Baton Rouge Parish.
The district has 48 elementary, 12 middle, and 14 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Merrydale, LA has a population of 8,557, a median household income of $42,873, and an unemployment rate of 16.6%.
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.
Merrydale averages 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 61.9 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Merrydale, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 70812.
The population of Merrydale, Louisiana is 8,557 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Merrydale: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $119,200, median household income $42,873, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Merrydale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.