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Merrick County, NE
6 cities and towns and 5 ZIP codes in Merrick County, Nebraska.
Population
7,724
Land area
488sq mi
People per sq mi
16
ZIP codes
5
Cities and towns in Merrick County
Merrick County at a glance
- Merrick County is 39% less dense than Nebraska as a whole.
- The median household income is $68,354, 11% below the Nebraska median of $76,475.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $175,900 (26% below Nebraska) and median rent is $750 a month.
- Its largest cities are Central City (3,061), Palmer (403) and Silver Creek (341).
Local data for Merrick County, NE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Merrick County, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$68,354
Poverty rate
7.9%
Median home value
$175,900
Prices +5.2% in a year
Median rent
$750/mo
Homeownership
82.2%
Bachelor's or higher
18.3%
Median age
43.2
Average commute
21.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,495), Irish Americans (817), Polish Americans (527).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, +0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,619
2,349 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,908
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$64.2M
FY 2026, $8,367 per person
PPP loans
$89M
1,756 loans, 10,890 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$125K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Merrick County, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.0%
- Carpooled8.3%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked3.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home5.9%
Average one-way commute: 21.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Merrick County, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
435
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
54
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 14°F
28.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Merrick County, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.3%
U.S. 33.3% +6.0 pts
Diabetes
11.7%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.0%
U.S. 12.8% +2.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.3%
U.S. 11.1% -1.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Merrick County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Merrick County, NE?
- Central City is the largest city or town in Merrick County, with about 3,061 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Merrick County?
- Merrick County includes 5 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 68628, 68801, 68816, 68826, 68827.
- What is the population of Merrick County, NE?
- About 7,724 people live in Merrick County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Merrick County?
- Merrick County borders Hall County, Platte County, Hamilton County, Howard County, Polk County, Nance County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023