Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Merrimac’s best subject grades are an A− for incomes and an A for the outdoors; its weakest is a D for hazard risk. Only 13 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on hazard risk. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. 30% of the land in Merrimac is conserved, above both the Wisconsin town median (3.8%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Devil's Lake State Park, at 3,148 acres with 7.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. On the outdoors, just 48 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns do better. Merrimac has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Merrimac beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Merrimac is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 147 in 1880, a low of 147 in 1880, 527 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 5 maps from 1895 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Merrimac, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Merrimac.
Merrimac’s concentration of trails stands at 1.4 miles per square mile. Count the trails in 10 parks and preserves and they come to 36 miles.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Merrimac Preserve | 9.9 mi | 1,863 |
| 2. Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area | 7.7 mi | 1,006 |
| 3. Devil's Lake State Park | 7.3 mi | 3,148 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
70% of Merrimac’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 11%. Households here have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2008. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in four fifths of U.S. communities.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The share of residents in Merrimac who live below the poverty line: 4.2%. Only 3% of working residents stay in Merrimac for work; the rest commute out. The town’s middle household income comes in at $109,000. The top destinations are Madison (17%), Sauk City (9%) and Baraboo (8%).
| Merrimac | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $109,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 16% | 12% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
In Merrimac, 27% of residents are 65 or older. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Merrimac at 1,296 residents, up 3.8% since 2020. The town’s median age is 48.5 years. A bachelor’s degree or higher: 40% of adults 25 and older, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
| Merrimac | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 27% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 48.5 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 32% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 23% | 21% | 22% |
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.4 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 61% are men (WI 43%).
| Merrimac | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.6% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.7% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.2% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.4% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.3% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.5% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 18.8% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.1% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.8% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.5% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.5% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.7% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.4% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,300, single groups can be off by several points
July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 10° and about 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
For adults in Merrimac, the share who report frequent physical distress is 15%. Of 32 CDC measures, Merrimac beats the Wisconsin average on 2 and trails it on 6. Among adults locally, 29% feel lonely and 40% have obesity.
| Merrimac | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Merrimac | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 88.1% | 85.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.9% | 6.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Merrimac. Close and well known come first.
26 mi Stadium & arenaCamp Randall Stadium
4 mi Park & preserveIce Age Trail
in town State parkDevil's Lake State Park
19 mi Canyon & gorgeDells of the Wisconsin River16 mi Theme parkNoah's Ark Water Park
26 mi Stadium & arenaKohl CenterCamp Randall Stadium: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Ice Age Trail: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Devil's Lake State Park: CrispAir at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 · Dells of the Wisconsin River: atramos, CC BY 2.0 · Kohl Center: Pbrown111 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
None within 15 miles of Merrimac; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Merrimac residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Where Merrimac’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Village in Wisconsin, United States
Merrimac is a village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States, northwest of Madison. The population was 527 at the 2020 census. The village is located within the Town of Merrimac. It is the location of the Merrimac Ferry, a free ferry across the Wisconsin River operated by the state.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
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