The Town FilesMerkel, Texas
Town in Taylor County · population 2,471 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,100
- Household income
- $73,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 35.4
Merkel is a town of 2,471 people in Taylor County, Texas. The median home is worth $115,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 82% of Texas towns, better for families than 70% of Texas towns.
How Merkel ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merkel is worth $115,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $73,500, which is more affordable than 91% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,058 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merkel | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,058 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $73,500 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Merkel
| People | Merkel | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Merkel
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 26.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 99 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merkel since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 19, 2020 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 19, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 13, 1989.
Severe weather in Taylor County since 1996
Taylor County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2022 | Fire | FM-5440: Mesquite Heat Fire |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Taylor County
Taylor County had 68,255 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,914 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Merkel itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Merkel
3 public schools with 1,126 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERKEL EL | PK-5 | 589 | 15.1 |
| MERKEL H S | 9-12 | 295 | 8.7 |
| MERKEL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 242 | 10.5 |
Towns near Merkel
- Tye, TX8.5 mi · 1,176 people · home $62,600
- Hawley, TX15.1 mi · 545 people · home $120,300
- Abilene, TX15.9 mi · 125,182 people · home $183,700
- Buffalo Gap, TX16.5 mi · 543 people · home $201,300
- Anson, TX20.8 mi · 2,294 people · home $74,800
- Potosi, TX21.2 mi · 3,947 people · home $354,200
- Tuscola, TX21.7 mi · 850 people · home $191,000
- Sweetwater, TX23.2 mi · 10,622 people · home $80,800
Merkel questions
Is Merkel, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merkel scores better for retirees than 46% of Texas towns and quieter than 52%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Merkel?
The median owner-occupied home in Merkel is valued at $115,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,500, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $1,058 a month.
What is the weather like in Merkel?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Merkel get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merkel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 19, 2020. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)