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Living in
Merriam.
About
Life in Merriam
Merriam is a community of 11,036 people in Kansas. The median household income is $73,600, median rent runs about $1,181 per month, and median home values are around $263,300. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Merriam at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
7.4%
Broadband Internet
95.3%
of households
Population Growth
+3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Merriam: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Merriam, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.1%), and 6.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.3%
of households
Married Couples
38.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.05
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 11% above KS average
Rent, home values, and income in Merriam
In Merriam, rent runs 11% above the KS average, and home values are 21% above the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,033
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $328,530 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KS
Unemployment in Merriam and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Johnson County, which includes Merriam, is close to the KS average.
Unemployment rate
Merriam: Johnson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Johnson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Merriam is about 2% of Johnson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Merriam Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Kansas City, MO-KS metro area
Commute22.2 min avg
How Merriam residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Merriam, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M 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 9% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Merriam runs 9% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
359.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,495.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Merriam Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Johnson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Johnson County, which includes Merriam, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 17 | Hail | $100,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Johnson County, county-wide
Merriam is about 2% of Johnson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Johnson County, which includes Merriam, is typically good — 250 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
250
per year
Moderate Days
112
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Johnson County, county-wide
Merriam is about 2% of Johnson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Merriam has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.8"
Annual Snowfall
11.0"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
93
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
86
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 1.02" |
| Feb | 45°F | 26°F | 1.53" |
| Mar | 57°F | 36°F | 2.08" |
| Apr | 67°F | 46°F | 3.89" |
| May | 76°F | 57°F | 5.10" |
| Jun | 86°F | 67°F | 5.33" |
| Jul | 90°F | 72°F | 4.38" |
| Aug | 89°F | 70°F | 4.68" |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 3.78" |
| Oct | 68°F | 49°F | 3.24" |
| Nov | 55°F | 36°F | 1.80" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 1.30" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Merriam
Merriam has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Adventhealth Shawnee Mission
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Adventhealth Shawnee Mission · 9100 W 74th Street
- Hospital campus: AdventHealth Prairie Star · 23401 Prairie Star Pkwy Ste B130, Lenexa
- Hospital campus: AdventHealth Prairie Star · 23351 Prairie Star Pkwy Ste A145, Lenexa
- Hospital campus: AdventHealth Prairie Star · 23401 Prairie Star Pkwy Ste B120, Lenexa
- Hospital campus: AdventHealth Prairie Star · 23401 Prairie Star Pkwy Ste B100, Lenexa
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
University of Kansas Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Kansas City
Overland Park Reg Med Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Overland Park
St Lukes Hospital of Kansas City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Kansas City
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Merriam
Merriam's student/teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 45.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Merriam (within 15 miles)
Johnson County Community College
6.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,332 students · in-state tuition $2,424 · 31% graduate · median earnings $49,934 (10 yrs after entry)
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
6.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 10,649 students · in-state tuition $3,630 · 22% graduate · median earnings $44,475 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Missouri-Kansas City
6.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,817 students · in-state tuition $13,216 · 58% graduate · median earnings $63,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,580 students · in-state tuition $46,270 · 77% graduate · median earnings $73,697 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,312 students · in-state tuition $41,540 · 49% graduate · median earnings $59,717 (10 yrs after entry)
MidAmerica Nazarene University
11 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 983 students · in-state tuition $38,620 · 69% graduate · median earnings $70,804 (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: Harry S Truman National Historic Site, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Merriam
Merriam has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Harry S Truman National Historic Site (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Harry S Truman National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
53 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Merriam
Antioch Library
8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Merriam
Cities Near Merriam
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Merriam?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Merriam FAQ
Is Merriam, Kansas affordable?⌄
Merriam's median rent is $1,181/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,600/year. Median home value is $263,300.
Is Merriam, Kansas safe?⌄
Merriam's violent crime rate was 360 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4495 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Merriam, Kansas?⌄
Johnson County, which includes Merriam, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Merriam, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Merriam is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,181/month and median household income is $73,600/year. The median home value is $263,300. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Merriam, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Merriam is 22 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