What are the schools like in Merrimac, VA?

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

What is the median household income in Merrimac?

The median household income in Merrimac, VA is $52,612 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Merrimac, VA?

Merrimac has an average high temperature of 41.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Merrimac, VA affordable or expensive?

Merrimac's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Merrimac is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,900 and the median rent is $985 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Merrimac, VA?

Merrimac has a violent crime rate of 204.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1211.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Merrimac, VA a Good Place to Live?

Merrimac is a small town of 2,719 in Virginia, with a median household income of $52,612 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Merrimac stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Merrimac is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Merrimac 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: 90.7

Merrimac's overall cost of living index is 90.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Merrimac costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Merrimac, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$985	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	32.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,612	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Merrimac's violent crime rate is 204.0 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

204.0 /100k

Property Crime

1211.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Merrimac, VA	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	38.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Merrimac sees average highs of 41.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 42.6 inches of annual precipitation and 24.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Merrimac, VA
Average High — January	41.6°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	42.6"
Annual Snowfall	24.7"

Demographics

Metric	Merrimac, VA	National Avg
Population	2,719	—
Median Age	43.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.4%	18.9%
Asian	4.7%	6.3%
Under 18	9.2%	22.2%
65 and over	31.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blacksburg, VA 3 mi Prices Fork, VA 4 mi Christiansburg, VA 4 mi Belview, VA 5 mi Plum Creek, VA 6 mi

Merrimac vs Other Cities

Merrimac, VA vs Blacksburg, VA Merrimac, VA vs Prices Fork, VA Merrimac, VA vs Christiansburg, VA Merrimac, VA vs Belview, VA Merrimac, VA vs Plum Creek, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merrimac, VA affordable or expensive?

Merrimac's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Merrimac roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,900 and median rent is $985/month.

What is the crime rate in Merrimac, VA?

Merrimac's violent crime rate is 204.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1211.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Merrimac?

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

Is Merrimac, VA a good place to live?

Merrimac, VA has a population of 2,719, a median household income of $52,612, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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 Merrimac?

Merrimac averages 41.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.6 inches with about 24.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Merrimac?

The population of Merrimac, Virginia is 2,719 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Merrimac?

Key numbers for living in Merrimac: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $111,900, median household income $52,612, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Merrimac side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.