Merritt Island

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Merritt Island, FL Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,152

Population

36,513

Renter Mix

27% Rent

Join a close-knit community on Florida’s Space Coast

Suburban Coastal Scenic Family-Friendly Tropical Peaceful

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 Andretti Thrill Park, Brevard Zoo, and NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. Patrick Air 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 Orlando Melbourne International Airport.

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.

Median Age

51 Years

Largest Age Group

60-69 Years

Approximately 17% of Residents

Under 20

18%

Over 65

28%

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 April 2026, the average apartment rent in Merritt Island, FL is $995 for a studio, $1,152 for one bedroom, $1,354 for two bedrooms, and $1,978 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Merritt Island has decreased by -0.9% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,152/month
677 Sq Ft
House
$3,350/month
1,857 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,231/month
1,265 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,226/month
1,069 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Merritt Island, FL

Getting Around

Not Walkable

Walkability

10 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Bikeability

30 / 100

Schools

Lewis Carroll Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

626 Students

Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

506 Students

Tropical Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

671 Students

Audubon Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

450 Students

Mila Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

433 Students

Edgewood Junior/Senior High School

Public

Grades 6-12

939 Students

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

608 Students

Edgewood Junior/Senior High School

Public

Grades 6-12

939 Students

Merritt Island High School

Public

Grades PK & 9-12

1,546 Students

Points of Interest

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

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 February 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.