Ultimate Moving to Merrick NY Guide | 🚤 Is Living in Merrick NY for You?

Rob Marchese • September 25, 2021

Merrick is a small, unincorporated hamlet in the town of Hempstead. Located on the south shore of Long Island in Nassau County, the town is about 38 miles from New York City and only about a 10-minute drive from ocean beaches. Merrick has top-notch schools, and many of the neighbors are young couples from New York City. Living in Merrick is like being on vacation all year round. You’ll find several marinas, a private yacht club, and waterfront restaurants. Basketball courts, a nearby golf course, baseball fields, a kayak launch, a 500-foot fishing pier, and hiking and jogging trails provide plenty of recreation for outdoor lovers. If you like the arts, Merrick has a theater staging Broadway musicals, comedies, and dramas, as well as shows for kids on Saturday afternoons. Notable people from Merrick include Ben & Jerry’s founder Ben Cohen and fashion designer Michael Kors.

Merrick, NY Population & Demographics

Merrick has a population of 20,130. Merrick’s population is 49.9% female and 50.1% male. The town isn’t very diverse. The 5 largest ethnic groups in Merrick are White (86.2%), White Hispanic (5.29%), Asian (3.4%), African American (2.29%), and other Hispanic (0.924%). The median age in Merrick is 45.4, and many families and young adults reside there. Over 60% of Merrick residents have attained a bachelor’s degree of higher, so Merrick is a well-educated community. Merrick’s crime rate is 71% lower than the national average. Merrick is part of the Nassau Police Department’s 1st precinct. The police department has over 2300 officers and many different police operations, keeping Merrick a very safe place to live.

Merrick Cost of Living

Merrick is a very expensive place to live. The cost of living in Merrick is 71% more expensive than the national average. Housing prices in Merrick play a large role in that figure since real estate in Merrick is 173% more expensive than in the rest of the US. Although utilities are 2% lower than the New York average, groceries are 48% higher than in the rest of the US. Transportation is also expensive as it is 32% more expensive than the rest of the nation, which is something to consider if you have a long commute to work.

The majority of Merrick residents own their homes. The homeownership rate in Merrick is 94.4%. The housing market in Merrick is considered to be somewhat competitive with homes being sold within 24 days for about 1% above the original asking price. The median price of a home in Merrick is $720,000. The cost of homes in Merrick is increasing steadily by 13.4%, so you’ll want to buy your home before prices get even steeper! Check out the many beautiful homes for sale in Merrick, NY. 

Only about 5 % of Merrick residents rent instead of owning a home. The average rent in Merrick is $1,850 for a 1-bedroom apartment. The rent trends in Merrick are projected to trend down by 4% in the next year! 

Merrick, NY Neighborhoods

The most popular neighborhoods in Merrick are Merrick Woods,  Gables Estates , and Wenshaw Park. The streets in Merrick Woods are lined with tall trees that create scenic drives through the neighborhood and provide tons of privacy for area residents. Gables Estates is known for its many Spanish-stucco California-style homes giving it a Hollywood Hills feel. Lots of restaurants and retail stores are just a short drive or a walk away. Wenshaw Park is a beautiful, close-knit community with lots of families and kids. Old fashioned street lamps and plenty of trees give this neighborhood a quaint feel. 

Merrick, NY Weather

Merrick has a humid subtropical climate known for warm summers and cold winters. In the summer, Merrick is warm and humid with highs of 82 °F and lows of 70°F. Meanwhile, the winters in Merrick are very cold, wet, and windy with an average high temperature of 37°F and low temperature of 29°F. The wettest season in Merrick lasts about 8 months, from December to August. Merrick averages 46 inches of rain a year, higher than the US average is 38 inches. The amount of snow Merrick gets per year is about 23 inches, a little less than the US average of 28 inches.

Things to Do in Merrick

You’ll have plenty of fun things to do in Merrick, from outdoor adventures to inside activities for the whole family! Check out Merrick’ top attractions below:

Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Theresa Lowe-Syers (@theresalowesyers)

Located next to the Meadowbrook Parkway, Norman J Levy Park & Preserve is located on 52 acres, has many trees and wildflowers, and has a windmill that circulates water in two man-made ponds that provide a fresh-water habitat for wildlife. You’ll find hiking and jogging trails, and a fishing pier on Merrick Bay. The wildlife includes many species of birds, turtles, snakes, and foxes. A herd of Nigerian dwarf goats controls the weeds and overgrown brush. Go kayaking, hiking, or fishing, or just relax and enjoy the peacefulness.

Merrick Golf Course

The Merrick Golf course is a challenging course rated by the Metropolitan Golf Association, which attests to the overall difficulty of the golf course. The course has elevated greens and open fairways that will test golfers of all levels. A practice putting green and a golf pro shop are also available. Take lessons from a certified PGA teaching professional. The driving range is conveniently open seven days a week.

Additional Things to do in and around Merrick

The town of Merrick is committed to providing quality parks for all its residents. Nassau County manages over 30 parks that provide a variety of fun activities for residents, such as an ice skating rink, jogging tracks, baseball, soccer, and football fields, dog parks, and beach parks. For hot summer days, kids and adults can cool off in outdoor pools or at the beach. Merrick also offers some convenient shopping, including the Merrick Mall and Merrick Common s.

Merrick Restaurants

Merrick has plenty of good dining options to choose from, so we’ve listed the top-rated restaurants in Merrick for you to try out below: 

Gyro Palace  

At the Gyro Palace, you’ll find some of the finest Greek cuisines on Long Island. The menu features kabobs, pitas, Greek sandwiches, steaks, chops, and more. Stop in for the delicious lunch specials or let Gyro Palace cater your next event. The food is always amazing, the service is fast, and the owner is friendly.

Anchor Down  

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Anchor Down (@anchordownmerrick)

Anchor down is a family-owned seafood restaurant that offers fresh local seafood in a cozy & casual atmosphere. The owner has nearly 20 years of experience and formerly worked in upscale Manhattan restaurants. Try the salmon, ahi tuna, swordfish, or jumbo shrimp. Anchor Down also features a raw bar where you can order oysters, clams on the half shell, or a chilled seafood plateau.

Map of Merrick, NY

Browse through this Merrick map for things to do, places to eat, stores to check out, and more!

Merrick Statistics & Information

Merrick is located in Nassau County. The area code for Merrick is 516. Merrick’s zip code is 11566. The elevation of Merrick is 13 feet. Merrick is in the Eastern Time Zone. Merrick is 5.2 square miles in area.

Jobs in Merrick, NY

The median household income in Merrick is $158,306, which is a 2.28% growth from last year! The city currently employs 10,463 residents. The largest industries in Merrick are educational services, professional, scientific, & technical services, and healthcare & social assistance. The highest paying industries in Merrick are finance & insurance, finance & insurance, & real estate & rental & leasing, and Utilities. Fortunately, only 3.29% of the residents in Merrick live below the poverty line. The group that is most impacted by poverty in Merrick is females from 45-54.

Most Merrick residents have an average commute time of 39.1 minutes, which is well over the normal commute time for a US worker of 25.5 minutes. Additionally, 9.22% of the workforce in Merrick have “super commutes” that can be over 90 minutes, especially those traveling to New York City for work. If you’re planning to commute to New York City, you can click here for directions from Merrick to New York City , which is an hour and 6 minutes away.  

Schools in Merrick, NY

Those moving to Merrick will have the choice from some of the highest rated schools and services out there. The most popular schools in Merrick are Norman J Levy Lakeside Elementary, Birch Elementary, Sanford H Calhoun High, and Merrick Avenue Middle . All of these schools are highly rated for their students’ academic achievement. High school graduation rates are 96%, well above the state average of 78.8%. Many graduates continue on to college and technical schools. Many students love to take advantage of the free Merrick Library

Living in Merrick Pros & Cons

  • Pro: Highly rated Schools
  • Pro: Good for families
  • Con: High cost of living 


Are you relocating to Merrick? Our award-winning Merrick moving company will take care of all your relocation needs and ensure that your move is easy. Call Zippboxx Moving at 631-600-0000 to get a free quote today!

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