1st Advantage MortgageThe median Merrick County household earns $68,354, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- First look: Merrick County, NE
- Where Merrick County differs from the rest of Nebraska
- Rent, home values and ownership in Merrick County
- Where Merrick County works
- How much Merrick County households make
- Merrick County communities by population
- How Merrick County compares with nearby counties
- Local borrowing considerations for Merrick County
- Budget math at the Merrick County median
- Merrick County households compared
- Before you sign
- Nebraska lender licensing
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Merrick County, NE
Merrick County is home to about 7,724 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 38th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Merrick County spans 488 square miles; with 7,724 people, that is 15.8 per square mile. Merrick County counts toward the Grand Island, NE metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Grand Island, NE include it. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (5 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Central City, with about 3,061 residents, or 40% of the county. Because Merrick County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Where Merrick County differs from the rest of Nebraska
Ranked against the other 89 county-level areas in Nebraska, these are the Merrick County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Merrick County sits near the bottom of Nebraska at 0.4%, 5th lowest of 90. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- Merrick County ranks 6th lowest of 93 Nebraska counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 18%, against 35% statewide. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
- On homeownership, Merrick County sits near the top of Nebraska at 82%, 9th highest of 93. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- On households without a vehicle, Merrick County sits near the bottom of Nebraska at 1.9%, 14th lowest of 92. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
Rent, home values and ownership in Merrick County
Half of Merrick County renters pay more than $750 a month and half pay less; the Nebraska midpoint is $1,072. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 36% in Merrick County, 45% statewide. Merrick County homes are worth $175,900 at the median, a 2.6-to-1 ratio to income. In Merrick County, 82% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1970. Against the median U.S. county, Merrick County rent is 14% below.
| Merrick County | Nebraska | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $750/mo | $1,072/mo | 30% lower |
| Median home value | $175,900 | $238,600 | 26% lower |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | +15.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | -8.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | +1.7 pts |
Merrick County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Where Merrick County works
Education and health care (24%), manufacturing (11%) and retail trade (10%) lead Merrick County's job mix. Merrick County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 8% versus 4% in Nebraska. Averaged over the five survey years, 0.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 11%; under 15 minutes: 43%. 61 Merrick County households, 1.9%, have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Merrick County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Merrick County households make
Median household income in Merrick County: $68,354 (11% below Nebraska, $76,475). In the state ranking that is 50th of 93.
| Income band | Share in Merrick County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.0% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -4.5 pts |
On the low end, 25% of Merrick County households report under $35,000; at the top, 29% report $100,000-plus. Merrick County counts about 610 residents below the poverty line, 7.9% of the population. A household earning below the $68,354 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Merrick County communities by population
4,478 of Merrick County's 7,724 residents live in its 6 Census places (58%); the 6 largest are listed. Live in one of these Merrick County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central City | city | 3,061 | $73,229 | $677 | 4 mi |
| Palmer | village | 403 | $62,578 | $875 | 12 mi |
| Silver Creek | village | 341 | $51,563 | $908 | 22 mi |
| Clarks | village | 330 | $49,167 | $840 | 10 mi |
| Chapman | village | 290 | $86,250 | $1,250 | 12 mi |
| Archer | CDP | 53 | $61,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Merrick County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 16 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Merrick County's $68,354 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $65,179 (Nance County) to $83,994 (Hamilton County).
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrick County | - | $68,354 | $750/mo | 82% |
| Nance County, NE | 16 mi | $65,179 | $807/mo | 73% |
| Hamilton County, NE | 21 mi | $83,994 | $794/mo | 83% |
| Polk County, NE | 24 mi | $69,768 | $681/mo | 79% |
| Howard County, NE | 25 mi | $76,767 | $777/mo | 78% |
| York County, NE | 31 mi | $77,757 | $877/mo | 76% |
| Hall County, NE | 32 mi | $69,251 | $943/mo | 62% |
Local borrowing considerations for Merrick County
A few patterns in the Merrick County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Merrick County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Merrick County borrower sees (free reports).
Budget math at the Merrick County median
Merrick County's $68,354 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $5,696 a month: gross income for a household at the Merrick County median
- Median rent: $750, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,699 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Merrick County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Merrick County households compared
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 5.3% of Merrick County residents are uninsured.
| Indicator | Merrick County | +/- Nebraska | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | -16.3 pts | -3.8 pts |
| Median age | 43.2 | +6.0 yrs | +1.7 yrs |
| Work from home | 5.9% | -5.1 pts | -2.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 1.9% | -3.5 pts | -3.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | -2.7 pts | -5.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.4% | -2.7 pts | -4.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | -1.8 pts | -2.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | +0.9 pts | n/a |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Merrick County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Merrick County credit union about member loans.
Nebraska lender licensing
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Merrick County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Nationally, Merrick County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Merrick County rank on income in Nebraska?
50th of 93, with a median of $68,354. The state median is $76,475.
Is Merrick County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $750 against $1,072 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Merrick County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Merrick County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Central City, Palmer, Silver Creek, Clarks, Chapman and 1 more.
Does living in Merrick County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Merrick County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.