The Town FilesMerrill, Wisconsin
City in Lincoln County · population 9,347 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,800
- Household income
- $53,148
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.9
Merrill is a city of 9,347 people in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $123,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 94% of Wisconsin towns.
How Merrill ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merrill is worth $123,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $53,148, which is more affordable than 92% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $771 a month. 61.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merrill | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $771 | $951 |
| Median household income | $53,148 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Merrill
| People | Merrill | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Merrill
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2011 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 16, 1997.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| July 2, 1993 | Severe Storm | DR-994: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 9,997 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,054 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Merrill itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Merrill
6 public schools with 2,101 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill High | 9-12 | 795 | 17.3 |
| Prairie River Middle | 5-8 | 541 | 15.5 |
| Kate Goodrich Elementary | K-2 | 358 | 12.3 |
| Washington Elementary | 3-4 | 249 | 13.8 |
| Pine River School for Young Learners (PRSYL) | PK-PK | 133 | 22.2 |
| Merrill Adult Diploma Academy (charter) | 10-12 | 25 | 25.0 |
Towns near Merrill
- Merrill, WI4.6 mi · 2,881 people · home $197,500
- Maine, WI8.5 mi · 2,613 people · home $277,500
- Stettin, WI14.2 mi · 2,580 people · home $370,100
- Wausau, WI15.3 mi · 39,994 people · home $167,900
- Rib Mountain, WI19.6 mi · 6,061 people · home $255,900
- Tomahawk, WI20.6 mi · 3,441 people · home $173,300
- Weston, WI21.3 mi · 15,723 people · home $229,300
- Rothschild, WI21.6 mi · 5,567 people · home $203,600
Merrill questions
Is Merrill, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merrill scores better for retirees than 4% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 10%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Merrill?
The median owner-occupied home in Merrill is valued at $123,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,148, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $771 a month.
What is the weather like in Merrill?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Merrill get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2011. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)