The Town FilesMerrill, Michigan
Village in Saginaw County · population 663 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,200
- Household income
- $47,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 37.0
Merrill is a village of 663 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $93,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 97% 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 $93,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $47,500, which is more affordable than 94% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $719 a month. 78.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merrill | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $719 | $955 |
| Median household income | $47,500 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Merrill
| People | Merrill | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Merrill
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 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 June 15, 1982 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 5, 1997.
Severe weather in Saginaw County since 1996
Saginaw County has been included in 18 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms 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 |
Jobs and pay in Saginaw County
Saginaw County had 79,478 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,049 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Merrill itself the ACS puts it at 27.7%.
Public schools in Merrill
3 public schools with 489 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill Elementary School | PK-5 | 190 | 10.0 |
| Merrill High School | 9-12 | 177 | 19.7 |
| Merrill Middle School | 6-8 | 122 | 15.3 |
Towns near Merrill
- Jonesfield, MI2.2 mi · 1,618 people · home $143,500
- Wheeler, MI4.4 mi · 2,612 people · home $115,400
- Lakefield, MI4.6 mi · 894 people · home $195,300
- Hemlock, MI4.8 mi · 1,408 people · home $221,800
- Richland, MI5.2 mi · 3,955 people · home $215,300
- Fremont, MI6.3 mi · 1,998 people · home $239,100
- Lafayette, MI7.0 mi · 516 people · home $164,300
- Breckenridge, MI7.1 mi · 1,238 people · home $111,500
Merrill questions
Is Merrill, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merrill scores better for retirees than 11% of Michigan towns and quieter than 42%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Merrill?
The median owner-occupied home in Merrill is valued at $93,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,500, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $719 a month.
What is the weather like in Merrill?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Merrill get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 15, 1982. 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)