The Town FilesMerrick, New York
Community in Nassau County · population 22,040 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $771,900
- Household income
- $185,740
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.0
Merrick is a community of 22,040 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $771,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 97% of New York towns, more upscale than 95% of New York towns, more walkable than 94% of New York towns.
How Merrick ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merrick is worth $771,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $185,740, which is more affordable than 21% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,919 a month. 96.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merrick | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $771,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,919 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $185,740 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Merrick
| People | Merrick | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 24.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 38.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Merrick
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrick since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 1998 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Nassau County since 1996
Nassau County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4755: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4567: Tropical Storm Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Nassau County
Nassau County had 631,563 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,454 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Merrick itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Merrick
7 public schools with 4,686 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANFORD H CALHOUN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,217 | 9.8 |
| MERRICK AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-9 | 846 | 11.0 |
| NORMAN J LEVY LAKESIDE SCHOOL | K-6 | 636 | 10.4 |
| BIRCH SCHOOL | PK-6 | 594 | 10.8 |
| CAMP AVENUE SCHOOL | PK-6 | 488 | 18.1 |
| CHATTERTON SCHOOL | PK-6 | 453 | 10.3 |
| OLD MILL ROAD SCHOOL | K-6 | 452 | 15.1 |
Towns near Merrick
- Bellmore, NY1.4 mi · 16,297 people · home $681,800
- Freeport, NY1.7 mi · 44,472 people · home $505,900
- Wantagh, NY2.4 mi · 18,613 people · home $706,600
- Roosevelt, NY2.4 mi · 18,066 people · home $477,400
- North Merrick, NY2.5 mi · 12,238 people · home $675,800
- North Bellmore, NY2.7 mi · 20,583 people · home $659,200
- Baldwin, NY2.9 mi · 33,919 people · home $593,800
- Seaford, NY3.2 mi · 15,251 people · home $658,300
Merrick questions
Is Merrick, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merrick scores better for retirees than 25% of New York towns and quieter than 15%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Merrick?
The median owner-occupied home in Merrick is valued at $771,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $185,740, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $2,919 a month.
What is the weather like in Merrick?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does Merrick get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrick since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)