The Town FilesMerrill, Oregon
City in Klamath County · population 821 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,700
- Household income
- $56,607
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.0
Merrill is a city of 821 people in Klamath County, Oregon. The median home is worth $204,700, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for families than 86% of Oregon towns, easier by car than 75% of Oregon towns.
How Merrill ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merrill is worth $204,700, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $56,607, which is more affordable than 90% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merrill | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,700 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $678 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $56,607 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Merrill
| People | Merrill | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.2% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.7% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Merrill
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 10.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.8 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 22, 1958 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 1958.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on June 11, 1997.
Severe weather in Klamath County since 1996
Klamath County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2026 | Fire | FM-5666: Wrights Spring Fire |
| September 2, 2024 | Fire | FM-5532: Copperfield Fire |
| July 23, 2023 | Fire | FM-5471: Golden Fire |
| July 10, 2021 | Fire | FM-5396: Bootleg Fire |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Klamath County
Klamath County had 23,856 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,739 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Merrill itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Merrill
2 public schools with 426 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost River High School | 7-12 | 240 | 17.1 |
| Merrill Elementary School | K-6 | 186 | 15.5 |
Towns near Merrill
- Tulelake, CA8.2 mi · 902 people · home $170,200
- Malin, OR9.8 mi · 731 people · home $206,900
- Falcon Heights, OR10.8 mi · 680 people · home $193,600
- Altamont, OR13.5 mi · 20,233 people · home $249,200
- Klamath Falls, OR16.2 mi · 21,813 people · home $287,000
- Dorris, CA16.9 mi · 860 people · home $154,700
- Keno, OR18.3 mi · 1,980 people · home $339,600
- Running Y Ranch, OR22.1 mi · 858 people · home $599,100
Merrill questions
Is Merrill, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merrill scores better for retirees than 63% of Oregon towns and quieter than 51%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Merrill?
The median owner-occupied home in Merrill is valued at $204,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,607, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Merrill?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.7 inches of precipitation a year and 22.8 inches of snow.
Does Merrill get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Merrill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 22, 1958. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)