CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

36.72° N · 93.17° W · GEOID 2947520

Merriam Woods

Taney County, Missouri · part of the Branson, MO metro

Limited data population under 5,000

MissouriMerriam Woods, MOMerriam WoodsMerriam Woods

The short answer

Merriam Woods is home to 2,047 people. Median household income is $52,250 a year and median rent is $987 a month, 22.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $116,400, about 2.2x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$987
28% below the median place
Median household income
$52,250
35% below the median place
Median home value
$116,400
64% below the median place
Unemployment
10.8%
120% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Merriam Woods

  • 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a smaller share than in 96% of the 2,473 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 139 Missouri places.
  • Owning with a mortgage costs about $41 a month less than the median rent, which is rarer than in 95% of places its size.
  • Unemployment averaged 10.8% over the survey period, higher than in 90% of places its size. It is the highest of 97 Missouri places.
  • Households average 3.06 people, larger than in 90% of places its size. It is the highest of 140 Missouri places.
  • 21% of homes stand vacant, more than in 88% of places its size. It is the 3rd-highest of 104 Missouri places.
01

Moving to Merriam Woods

Taney County loses about 0.5 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in3,414
Moved out3,434
Net−20

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Missouri, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MissouriOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$52K
Leavers$54K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Taney County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.8% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 4.4% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Taney County report $52,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $53,700.
Income you would need
$39,500 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $987 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $946 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $116,400.
Getting to work
24 minutes each way on average; 8.9% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Lincoln Park, MI matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
5.8%
0% above the median place
Moved from another state1
4.4%
123% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$52,134
26% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureMerriam WoodsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year15.8%0% above
Moved from another state1County figure4.4%123% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-0.517% above
Income of households moving in7County figure$52,13426% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$53,74824% below
02

What it costs to live here

Owner costs with a mortgage is $946, 49% below the median place.

Merriam Woods22.7%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$39,480
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
22.7%
11% above the median place
Home price to income
2.2x
41% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
23%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$40,200
a year, prices not adjusted
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Merriam Woods, $987 a month. It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Merriam Woods, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
Childress, TX18.9% vs 22.7%n/aCompare
Lacy-Lakeview, TX19.3% vs 22.7%n/aCompare
New Carlisle, OH15.6% vs 22.7%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Merriam Woods.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Merriam Woods? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$946
49% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$732
78% below the median place
Vacant homes1
20.7%
193% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureMerriam WoodsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$98728% below
Rent to income122.7%11% above
Property tax rate10.6%31% below
Home price to income12.2x41% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms2County figure$1,12630% below
HUD area median income3County figure$77,50028% below
Property tax paid (median)1$73278% below
Median home value1$116,40064% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure5.7%80% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure63.7%24% above
Homeownership182.0%24% above
Renters paying 30%+154.0%7% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$94649% below
Vacant homes120.7%193% above
Median year built120011% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Income per person1
$20,389
49% below the median place
Unemployment1
10.8%
120% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate25.2% 2.3×
Median household income$52,250 −35%
Mean commute24 min −4%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureMerriam WoodsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$52,25035% below
Income per person1$20,38949% below
Unemployment110.8%120% above
Average annual pay5County figure$43,57234% below
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure4.0%8% above
Jobs5County figure28,67381% below
Poverty rate125.2%134% above
Mean commute124 min4% below
Works from home1County figure8.9%28% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Bachelor's or higher is 9.7%, 70% below the median place.

Bachelor's or higher1
9.7%
70% below the median place
No health insurance1
19.6%
206% above the median place
Household size1
3.1
22% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Median age34.4 −12%
Homes with broadband87.9% −5%
High school or higher86.7% −6%
All 9 people measures
MeasureMerriam WoodsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population12,0476646th largest
Population change since 202064.3%274% above
Median age134.412% below
Bachelor's or higher19.7%70% below
High school or higher186.7%6% below
Household size13.122% above
Born abroad1County figure3.2%64% below
No health insurance119.6%206% above
Homes with broadband187.9%5% below
05

Life in Merriam Woods

6 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents0.0 −100%
Playgrounds per 10k0.0 −100%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars36.8 +77%
Shops67.8 2.2×
Arts, recreation and fitness20.7 5.0×
Doctors' offices and clinics15.7 −22%
Child care centers1.1 −52%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Shops per 10k8
67.8
124% above the median place
Restaurants and bars per 10k8
36.8
77% above the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8
20.7
above the median place (median 4.1)
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasureMerriam WoodsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure21133% above
Public school students12County figure7,94662% above
Students per teacher12County figure13.214% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure36.877% above
Shops per 10k8County figure67.8124% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure20.7above (median 4.1)
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure15.722% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.152% below
Parks per 10k90.0below (median 10.2)
Playgrounds per 10k90.0below (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
National Register listings10County figure654% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 0, below the median place (median 192).

Violent crime per 100k
0
below the median place (median 192)
Property crime per 100k
0
below the median place (median 1,213)
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Hurricane risk14
38.3
46% below the median place
Natural hazard risk14
84.0
9% below the median place
July average high13
89°F
3% above the median place
All 9 weather and risk measures
MeasureMerriam WoodsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure89°F3% above
January average low13County figure25°F2% below
Average temperature13County figure57°F4% above
Annual precipitation13County figure46.1 in5% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure84.09% below
Hurricane risk14County figure38.346% below
Tornado risk14County figure77.75% below
Wildfire risk14County figure67.911% above
Heat wave risk14County figure88.62% below
08

Merriam Woods in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 23% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 23% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$987/mo (2024)$1,270/mo$1,040 to $1,540/mo+4.2%
Median household income$52,250 (2024)$66,500$56,000 to $78,500+4.1%
Median home value$116,400 (2024)$172,000$125,000 to $237,000+6.7%
Population2,084 (2025)2,1402,060 to 2,230+0.6%

The median home would be worth 2.6 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.2 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Merriam Woods

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Lincoln Park, MI$1,023$58,616Compare
Cleveland, TX$930$54,519Compare
Gray, LA$1,025$54,559Compare
Winslow, AZ$1,051$58,346Compare
Winslow, AZGray, LACleveland, TXLincoln Park, MIMerriam Woods, MOMerriam WoodsLincoln ParkClevelandGrayWinslowMerriam WoodsLincoln ParkClevelandGrayWinslow

Common questions

Is Merriam Woods a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a smaller share than in 96% of the 2,473 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 139 Missouri places. Owning with a mortgage costs about $41 a month less than the median rent, which is rarer than in 95% of places its size. On cost, space and class size it scores 74 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Merriam Woods expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 22.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $116,400.

What salary do you need to live in Merriam Woods?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $39,480 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Merriam Woods safe?

There were 0 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Merriam Woods?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Lincoln Park, MI, Cleveland, TX, Gray, LA and Winslow, AZ.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  3. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Merriam Woods with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Merriam Woods itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/merriam-woods-missouri

Citytistics. “Merriam Woods, Missouri.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/merriam-woods-missouri/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.