At a Glance
Median Income
$71,665
$40,533 per capita
Home Value
$242,400
Zillow: $331,186
Median Rent
$1,161/mo
26.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
445/100K
5,642/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
41.5%
96.4% high school+
Unemployment
5.5%
3.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
33.7%
12.2% smoking rate
How Merriam Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Merriam's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Merriam a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Merriam residents earn a median household income of $71,665 , which is 5% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $40,533. The unemployment rate stands at 5.5% (53% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 4,055 business establishments, including 295 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Merriam is $242,400 , 14% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $331,186. Median rent is $1,161/month, with 26.3% 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 1969.
Safety & Crime
Merriam reports 445 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 17% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 5,642/100K.
Education
41.5% of adults in Merriam hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(23% above the national average).
96.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Merriam has an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C).
Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 46.
Data Overview
People
Population11,036
Median Age38.0 yrs
Density2,555/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born7.3%
Veterans7.3%
Economy
B+
Median Income$71,665
Per Capita$40,533
Unemployment5.5%
Poverty3.7%
County GDP$15,517M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,269
Housing
A+
Home Value$242,400
Rent$1,161
Ownership61.9%
Zillow$331,186
Housing Units5,319
Rent Burden26.3%
Crime
F
Violent445/100K
Property5,642/100K
Health
Obesity33.7%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking12.2%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death11,751/100K
Climate
Avg Temp57°F
Rain38.1 in/yr
AQI46 (Good)
Elevation938 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+41.5%
High School+96.4%
Graduate+15.2%
School Score4.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 37% / D 61%
Commute20 min
Broadband95.1%
Internet Speed194 Mbps
EV Stations9
Libraries9
Did You Know?
Merriam was founded in 1950.
The median home in Merriam was built in 1969.
17.9% work from home.
The nearest airport is Kansas City International (19 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.427 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
12.2% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 194 Mbps.
There are 295 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 22 fatal vehicle crashes.