Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 17 min6:33 am – 8:50 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 10 h 1 min7:37 am – 5:38 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People5,047 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 32.91,695 householdsMedian household income $71,131Median home value $136,400Median rent $1,198 a month74% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,372 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting1.3% unemployment rate60% of adults are in the labour force, 2,228 employedMain industries: education and health care 24%, retail 11%, transport, warehousing and utilities 11%Average commute 27 minutes82% drive alone, 7% car-pool, 1% take public transport, 1% walk or cycle, 7% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages15% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher93% finished high school, 5% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 91%, Spanish 6%, other Indo-European languages 2%1% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 94°F, lows 70°FColdest month January: highs 56°F, lows 31°F27 in of rain a yearwettest month May2 in of snow a year, on about 0 days99 days above 90°F, 68 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Merkel 12 Sw station, 12 mi away; snow from Trent
Nearby landmarksBlowout Mountainpeak · 5.5 miSpears Mountainpeak · 6.2 miHugh Lilly Lakelake · 7.0 miSand Springspring · 7.1 miBilly Doan Reservoirreservoir · 9.7 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsAbilene State Parkstate park · 17.0 mi · 1,799 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes52 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19706 of magnitude 4+, 1 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 5.1 on 26 Jul 202442 mi away, near Hermleigh, TexasMost recent: magnitude 3.3 on 2 Dec 202541 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModerateTaylor County, TX, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsHail Very HighWinter weather Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Internet at home91% of households have a broadband subscription67% have cable, fibre or DSL18% rely on a mobile data plan alone8% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterCity of Merkelserves 3,573 people from surface water purchasedNo health-based violations since 20211 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,854 ft565 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalHendrick Medical Center17.0 miPost officeMerkel Post Officeunder a mileTown hallMerkel City Hallunder a milePoliceMerkel Police Departmentunder a mileFire stationMerkel Volunteer Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi3 schools1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 highElementaryMerkel Elementary Schoolunder a mileHighMerkel High Schoolunder a mileMiddleMerkel Middle Schoolunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAbilene Regional Airport ABI20 miInterstateI-20under a mileUS highwayUS 84under a mileCoachAbilene 7-ElevenGreyhound19 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 79536 ZIP area.
