The Town FilesMerriam, Kansas
City in Johnson County · population 11,098 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,300
- Household income
- $73,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 39.3
Merriam is a city of 11,098 people in Johnson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $263,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 97% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Kansas towns.
How Merriam ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merriam is worth $263,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $73,600, which is more affordable than 5% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,181 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merriam | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,181 | $815 |
| Median household income | $73,600 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Merriam
| People | Merriam | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Merriam
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merriam since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 2003 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 403 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on March 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| November 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4347: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 12, 2007 | Severe Storm | EM-3282: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 370,992 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,090 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Merriam itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Merriam
2 public schools with 815 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merriam Park Elementary | PK-6 | 429 | 14.8 |
| Crestview Elem | PK-6 | 386 | 14.3 |
Towns near Merriam
- Mission, KS2.1 mi · 9,954 people · home $289,100
- Roeland Park, KS3.3 mi · 6,871 people · home $276,200
- Fairway, KS3.5 mi · 4,170 people · home $618,000
- Prairie Village, KS3.8 mi · 22,957 people · home $435,700
- Mission Hills, KS4.1 mi · 3,594 people · home $1,237,800
- Shawnee, KS6.0 mi · 67,311 people · home $359,700
- Lenexa, KS6.9 mi · 57,434 people · home $394,900
- Kansas City, KS7.7 mi · 156,607 people · home $167,400
Merriam questions
Is Merriam, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merriam scores better for retirees than 18% of Kansas towns and quieter than 8%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Merriam?
The median owner-occupied home in Merriam is valued at $263,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,600, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,181 a month.
What is the weather like in Merriam?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 11.0 inches of snow.
Does Merriam get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merriam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 2003. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)