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Merlin, OR
Census-designated place in Josephine County, Oregon.
Population
1,617
Land area
4.1sq mi
People per sq mi
390
ZIP codes
0
Merlin and its ZIP codes
Merlin at a glance
- Merlin is about 8.8 times as dense as Oregon as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $71,806 a year, 13% less than the Oregon figure of $83,011.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $435,000 (9% below Oregon).
Local data for Merlin, OR
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Merlin, OR, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$71,806
Poverty rate
8.8%
Median home value
$435,000
Homeownership
96.0%
Bachelor's or higher
16.9%
Median age
52.8
Average commute
36.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (449), Irish Americans (119), Italian Americans (80).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Josephine County. PPP loans are for Merlin.
Unemployment rate
7.2%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,430
30,834 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,206
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$813M
FY 2026, $9,234 per person
How people get to work
Merlin, OR, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.8%
- Carpooled0.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home20.1%
Average one-way commute: 36.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Merlin, OR, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
503
Countywide, mostly frost/freeze
Flood insurance policies
393
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
77° / 33°F
40.7 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Merlin, OR, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.3%
U.S. 33.3% -1.0 pts
Diabetes
14.8%
U.S. 12.1% +2.7 pts
Smoking
14.0%
U.S. 12.8% +1.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.3%
U.S. 11.1% -2.8 pts
Cities near Merlin
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| RedwoodCensus-designated place | 6.9 mi | 3.5 |
| Grants PassCity | 8.3 mi | 11.5 |
| New HopeCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 3.8 |
| WimerCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 5 |
| Rogue RiverCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| GlendaleCity | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| Foots CreekCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 6.1 |
| SelmaCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 6.5 |
| Gold HillCity | 20 mi | 0.8 |
| WilliamsCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 11.3 |
| KerbyCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 2.6 |
| Cave JunctionCity | 27 mi | 1.8 |
| JacksonvilleCity | 27 mi | 1.9 |
| Central PointCity | 28 mi | 4 |
| RuchCensus-designated place | 28 mi | 6.7 |
| CanyonvilleCity | 29 mi | 1.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Merlin, OR in?
- Merlin is in Josephine County, Oregon.
- What is the population of Merlin, OR?
- About 1,617 people live in Merlin, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Merlin?
- Nearby places include Redwood (6.9 mi), Grants Pass (8.3 mi), New Hope (11 mi), Wimer (14 mi), Rogue River (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023