Merna, NE

Full City Profile · Nebraska · Custer County County

4.0 /5.0
A Great
380 Population 704/sq mi density
$73,500 Median Income $32,828 per capita
$107,500 Home Value $171,963 Zillow
$1,083 Median Rent 20.0% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature
A
Overall
4.0 / 5.0
Strong
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$73,500 median income, 1.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$107,500 home value, $1,083/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Merna, NE

At a Glance

Median Income
$73,500
2% below
$32,828 per capita
Home Value
$107,500
62% below
Zillow: $171,963
Median Rent
$1,083/mo
7% below
20.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
20.1%
40% below
94.7% high school+
Unemployment
1.0%
72% below
8.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.3%
22% above
13.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F

How Merna Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Merna's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
98%
Home Value
38%
Rent
93%
Poverty
65%
Bachelor's
60%
Unemployment
28%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Merna a Good Place to Live?

A
4.0 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Merna residents earn a median household income of $73,500 , which is 2% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $32,828. The unemployment rate stands at 1.0% (72% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 488 business establishments, including 32 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Merna is $107,500 , 62% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $171,963. Median rent is $1,083/month, with 20.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1951.

Education

20.1% of adults in Merna hold a bachelor's degree or higher (40% below the national average). 94.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.3/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Merna has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 22.9 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population380
Median Age33.3 yrs
Density704/mi²
Male / Female56% / 44%
Foreign Born0.5%
Veterans5.4%

Economy

A
Median Income$73,500
Per Capita$32,828
Unemployment1.0%
Poverty8.1%
County GDP$882M
Avg Weekly Wage$961

Housing

A+
Home Value$107,500
Rent$1,083
Ownership79.3%
Zillow$171,963
Housing Units167
Rent Burden20.0%

Health

Obesity39.3%
Diabetes8.7%
Smoking13.6%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death8,243/100K

Climate

Avg Temp50°F
Rain22.9 in/yr
Elevation2,661 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.1%
High School+94.7%
Graduate+6.8%
School Score6.3/10

Community

2024 VoteR 86% / D 13%
Commute14 min
Broadband92.9%
Internet Speed17 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries7

Did You Know?

The median home in Merna was built in 1951.
The nearest airport is North Platte Regional/Lee Bird Field (54 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.447 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
6.6% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.