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Living in
North Merrick.
North Merrick is an unincorporated community in Nassau County, NY. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in North Merrick
North Merrick is a community of 12,544 people in New York. The median household income is $161,554, median rent runs about $2,906 per month, and median home values are around $675,800. Unemployment is low at 3.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
North Merrick at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
7.0%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in North Merrick: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Merrick, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (14.3%), and 6.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
20.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.3%
of households
Married Couples
68.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.02
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 79% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in North Merrick
In North Merrick, rent runs 79% above the NY average, and home values are 59% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
45.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
94.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NY average
Unemployment in North Merrick and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Nassau County, which includes North Merrick, is 1 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
North Merrick: Nassau County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Nassau County (county-wide) · Annual averages
North Merrick is less than 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What North Merrick Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area
Commute36.1 min avg
How North Merrick residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Merrick, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Major hub30.8M 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 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Nassau County Police Department, which covers North Merrick, runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
138.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
963.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Nassau County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Nassau County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Nassau County, which includes North Merrick, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | High Wind | $22,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | High Wind | $16,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Weather | $8,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.3M |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $379,000 |
| 2019 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $325,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Coastal Flood | $829,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Nassau County, county-wide
North Merrick is less than 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality29 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Nassau County, which includes North Merrick, is typically good — 287 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
29
Good Days
287
per year
Moderate Days
77
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nassau County, county-wide
North Merrick is less than 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Merrick has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.8"
Annual Snowfall
18.5"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
77
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 28°F | 3.33" |
| Feb | 44°F | 29°F | 2.81" |
| Mar | 50°F | 35°F | 4.06" |
| Apr | 60°F | 43°F | 3.81" |
| May | 70°F | 53°F | 3.34" |
| Jun | 79°F | 63°F | 3.77" |
| Jul | 85°F | 69°F | 3.24" |
| Aug | 84°F | 68°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 78°F | 61°F | 3.64" |
| Oct | 67°F | 50°F | 3.66" |
| Nov | 56°F | 40°F | 3.07" |
| Dec | 47°F | 33°F | 4.35" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Merrick
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Merrick's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Nassau University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · East Meadow
Mercy Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Rockville Centre
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Oceanside
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Merrick
North Merrick's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 54.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
54.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Merrick (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,550 students · in-state tuition $7,538 · 57% graduate · median earnings $68,324 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,630 students · in-state tuition $6,545 · 34% graduate · median earnings $53,866 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,552 students · in-state tuition $8,626 · 62% graduate · median earnings $75,278 (10 yrs after entry)
St. John's University-New York
12.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 9,477 students · in-state tuition $55,640 · 71% graduate · median earnings $77,281 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY Queensborough Community College
11 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 8,940 students · in-state tuition $5,210 · 34% graduate · median earnings $50,546 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,488 students · in-state tuition $59,960 · 66% graduate · median earnings $76,540 (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: Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Merrick
North Merrick has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
20 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
22 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
23 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
23 mi awayCities Near North Merrick
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Merrick?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Merrick FAQ
Is North Merrick, New York affordable?⌄
North Merrick's median rent is $2,906/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $161,554/year. Median home value is $675,800.
Is North Merrick, New York safe?⌄
North Merrick is policed by the Nassau County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 139 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 963 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Merrick, New York?⌄
Nassau County, which includes North Merrick, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Merrick, New York?⌄
The cost of living in North Merrick is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,906/month and median household income is $161,554/year. The median home value is $675,800. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Merrick, New York?⌄
The average commute in North Merrick is 36 minutes, which is longer than 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