The Town FilesMerritt Park, New York
Community in Dutchess County · population 1,647 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $492,100
- Household income
- $173,016
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 48.2
Merritt Park is a community of 1,647 people in Dutchess County, New York. The median home is worth $492,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more upscale than 77% of New York towns, quieter than 76% of New York towns, better for retirees than 74% of New York towns.
How Merritt Park 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 Merritt Park is worth $492,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $173,016, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. 91.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merritt Park | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $492,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $173,016 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Merritt Park
| People | Merritt Park | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 39.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Merritt Park
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merritt Park since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 29, 1971 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 31, 2017.
Severe weather in Dutchess County since 1996
Dutchess County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms 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 |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dutchess County
Dutchess County had 112,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,950 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Merritt Park itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Merritt Park
- Fishkill, NY1.1 mi · 2,166 people · home $311,000
- Brinckerhoff, NY1.1 mi · 3,377 people · home $370,000
- Fishkill, NY3.1 mi · 24,226 people · home $419,600
- Myers Corner, NY3.2 mi · 10,598 people · home $419,700
- Wappinger, NY3.5 mi · 28,216 people · home $394,800
- Hopewell Junction, NY4.3 mi · 1,330 people · home $684,600
- Wappingers Falls, NY4.7 mi · 6,103 people · home $337,200
- East Fishkill, NY4.9 mi · 29,707 people · home $478,400
Merritt Park questions
Is Merritt Park, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merritt Park scores better for retirees than 74% of New York towns and quieter than 76%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Merritt Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Merritt Park is valued at $492,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $173,016, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Merritt Park?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.9 inches of snow.
Does Merritt Park get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merritt Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 29, 1971. 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)