Median Age
51 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 17% of Residents
Under 20
18%
Over 65
28%
Merritt Island, FL Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,155
Population
36,513
Renter Mix
27% Rent
Join a close-knit community on Florida’s Space Coast
Suburban
•
Coastal
•
Scenic
Despite the name, Merritt Island is not actually an island—it’s part of a peninsula. Misnomer aside, Merritt Island is a tranquil, coastal community with a small-town atmosphere. Residents enjoy the peace of a predominantly residential area along with the convenience of numerous suburban shopping centers, which offer plenty of familiar chain restaurants and national retailers. The popular Merritt Square Mall is a prime local destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The natural environment functions as a large part of life in Merritt Island. Residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking the trails in Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary to kayaking in the Banana River Aquatic Preserve. Merritt Island is also just a short distance from a host of beautiful Atlantic Coast beaches and vibrant beach towns like Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral.
Merritt Island is also convenient to several area attractions, such as the Brevard Zoo and NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. Patrick Space Force Base sits close to Merritt Island as well, affording many residents quick commutes. Getting around from Merritt Island is simple with access to Pineda Causeway, U.S. 1, I-95, A1A, and Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
Explore the City
Merritt Island has many fishing piers.
Merritt Island has some new developments as well as old ones.
The Savannahs Golf Course has many homes throughout the grounds.
Merritt Island is perfectly situated between two rivers and close to the Atlantic Ocean.
The boardwalks at Waterway Park allow you to fish, walk, or take in the sights.
Merritt Island sits between the Indian and Banana Rivers.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$78,440
Average: $104,580
Education
13,066
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
17,403
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Merritt Island has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
27%
Non-Renters
73%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
30%
Other Education
70%
Rent Trends
As of July 2026, the average apartment rent in Merritt Island, FL is $1,007 for a studio, $1,155 for one bedroom, $1,396 for two bedrooms, and $2,093 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Merritt Island has decreased by -4.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,155/month
677 Sq Ft
House
$3,275/month
1,820 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,092/month
1,116 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,907/month
968 Sq Ft
Learn More About Merritt Island
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Merritt Island, FL is for everyday living.
Not Walkable
Walkability
10
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Lewis Carroll Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
591 Students
Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
480 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
496 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
409 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
364 Students
Edgewood Junior/Senior High School
Public
Grades 6-12
939 Students
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
443 Students
Edgewood Junior/Senior High School
Public
Grades 6-12
939 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
1,301 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Rotary Park-Merritt Island
- Intracoastal Waterway Park
- Riverwalk-A Family Park
- Brevard Zoo
- Lori Wilson Park
Airports
- Melbourne Orlando International
Top Apartments in Merritt Island
Houses for Rent in Merritt Island
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.