The Town FilesMerrill, Michigan
Township in Newaygo County · population 741 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,100
- Household income
- $40,865
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 52.2
Merrill is a township of 741 people in Newaygo County, Michigan. The median home is worth $109,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Michigan towns, quieter than 94% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Merrill ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merrill is worth $109,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $40,865, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merrill | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $955 |
| Median household income | $40,865 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 60.6% | — |
Who lives in Merrill
| People | Merrill | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 18.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Merrill
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 26, 1951 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 27, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on June 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Newaygo County since 1996
Newaygo County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Newaygo County
Newaygo County had 11,901 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,371 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Merrill itself the ACS puts it at 12.7%.
Towns near Merrill
- Lincoln, MI4.8 mi · 1,292 people · home $162,300
- Lilley, MI6.0 mi · 835 people · home $134,400
- Denver, MI8.3 mi · 2,008 people · home $114,500
- Wilcox, MI8.8 mi · 1,133 people · home $121,100
- White Cloud, MI10.1 mi · 1,479 people · home $165,900
- Sherman, MI11.6 mi · 2,105 people · home $240,400
- Hesperia, MI11.6 mi · 1,034 people · home $131,300
- Leavitt, MI11.8 mi · 911 people · home $92,500
Merrill questions
Is Merrill, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merrill scores better for retirees than 57% of Michigan towns and quieter than 94%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Merrill?
The median owner-occupied home in Merrill is valued at $109,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,865, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Merrill?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 68.5 inches of snow.
Does Merrill get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 26, 1951. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)