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Living in
Merritt Island.
Merritt Island is an unincorporated community in Brevard County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Merritt Island
Living on Merritt Island means settling into a mature, stable community built around the space industry—Kennedy Space Center dominates the northern part of the peninsula and shapes the local economy, though it's not the only employer. You'll find a solid middle-class feel here with a median household income of $94,000 and a median home value around $402,900, plus unemployment sitting at a healthy 4.2%. The downside is that this is very much car-dependent suburban Florida—your average commute is about 24.5 minutes, and the community is almost entirely urban sprawl with little walkability.
Merritt Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
50.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Foreign-Born
6.7%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-5.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.7% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Merritt Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Merritt Island, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (18.4%), and 4.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.2%
of residents
65 and Older
27.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.0%
of households
Married Couples
54.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Merritt Island
In Merritt Island, rent runs 14% below the FL average, and home values are 12% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,557
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $430,278 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Merritt Island
Unemployment in Brevard County, which includes Merritt Island, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Merritt Island: Brevard County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Brevard County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Merritt Island Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.3 min avg
How Merritt Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Merritt Island, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)
Regional airport · few flights313k passengers boarded in 2025
- 37 mi
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Major hub28.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, which covers Merritt Island, runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
121.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
528.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Brevard County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Brevard County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Brevard County, which includes Merritt Island, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.7M |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.4M |
| 2023 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $506,100 |
| 2022 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Brevard County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Brevard County, which includes Merritt Island, is typically good — 333 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
333
per year
Moderate Days
32
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Brevard County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 52°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Merritt Island has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and warm winters (avg low 52°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/67°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
74°/52°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
76
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72°F | 51°F | 2.77" |
| Feb | 75°F | 53°F | 2.28" |
| Mar | 78°F | 56°F | 2.93" |
| Apr | 82°F | 61°F | 2.53" |
| May | 86°F | 67°F | 3.82" |
| Jun | 89°F | 72°F | 7.52" |
| Jul | 91°F | 73°F | 6.81" |
| Aug | 91°F | 73°F | 7.49" |
| Sep | 89°F | 73°F | 8.55" |
| Oct | 84°F | 68°F | 5.28" |
| Nov | 79°F | 60°F | 2.57" |
| Dec | 74°F | 54°F | 2.73" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Merritt Island
Uninsured
8.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Merritt Island's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Cape Canaveral Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Cocoa Beach
Viera Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Melbourne
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Merritt Island
Merritt Island's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 41.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Merritt Island (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 10,490 students · in-state tuition $2,496 · 46% graduate · median earnings $42,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Canaveral National Seashore, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Merritt Island
Merritt Island has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Canaveral National Seashore (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Canaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
30 mi awayFort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayCities Near Merritt Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Merritt Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Merritt Island FAQ
Is Merritt Island, Florida affordable?⌄
Merritt Island's median rent is $1,441/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $94,012/year. Median home value is $402,900.
Is Merritt Island, Florida safe?⌄
Merritt Island is policed by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 121 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 528 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Merritt Island, Florida?⌄
Brevard County, which includes Merritt Island, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Merritt Island, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Merritt Island is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,441/month and median household income is $94,012/year. The median home value is $402,900. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Merritt Island, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Merritt Island is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from