Merkel is a small town of 2,646 in Texas, with a median household income of $67,159
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Merkel stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Merkel is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Merkel 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: 89.8
Merkel's overall cost of living index is 89.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Merkel costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Merkel, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$95,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$988
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,159
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Merkel's violent crime rate is 165.3 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
165.3 /100k
Property Crime
619.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Merkel is served primarily by MERKEL ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Merkel, TX
National Avg
School District
MERKEL ISD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Merkel sees average highs of 55.9°F in January
and 94.1°F in July,
with 25.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.5 inches of snow per year.
Merkel's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Merkel roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $95,400 and median rent is $988/month.
Merkel's violent crime rate is 165.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 619.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Merkel are operated by MERKEL ISD.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 15.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Merkel, TX has a population of 2,646, a median household income of $67,159, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
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.
Merkel averages 55.9°F in January and 94.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.7 inches
with about 1.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Merkel, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79536.
The population of Merkel, Texas is 2,646 with a median age of 31.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Merkel: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $95,400, median household income $67,159, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Merkel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
