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Merrillan vs Gresham

104 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.7× in Gresham) and growth since 2010 (+13.3 pts in Merrillan).

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Merrillan, WIKnown for its schoolsWisconsin · 527 people

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Gresham, WIKnown for its schoolsWisconsin · 570 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

MerrillanKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 13%of WI districts Housing$243K typical home28% below the WI typical home All about Merrillan →

GreshamKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 10%of WI districts Housing$263K typical home23% below the WI typical home All about Gresham →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker7.7×

Gresham is more of a job hub

Gresham 0.77Merrillan 0.10

Growth since 2010+13.3 pts

Merrillan has grown faster since 2010

Merrillan +3.7%Gresham -9.6%

Property tax bill+24%

Tax bills are bigger in Gresham

Gresham $1,682Merrillan $1,356

Street grid+48%

Merrillan has the more walkable street grid

Merrillan 42.6Gresham 28.7

Gresham has more miles of trail

Gresham 1.4 miMerrillan 0.9 mi

Typical home built12 yrs

Merrillan’s homes are older

Gresham 1973Merrillan 1961

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 more a month in Gresham

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Merrillan$1,470/mo

Typical home $243K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.97% · or rent about $775/mo · Housing →

Gresham$1,740/mo

Typical home $263K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.64% · or rent about $800/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,200 a year, between Gresham and Merrillan.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

DMerrillanBetter than 13% of districts in the state DGreshamBetter than 10% of districts in the state

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

MerrillanGresham

Snow a year41″48″

January low—6°F

July high—81°F

Growing season (days)—144d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)50th 22nd

Outdoors & history

MerrillanGresham

Trails1 mi 1 mi

Conserved land0.2%0.6%

Archive photos6 6

Community

MerrillanGresham

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

104 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MerrillanWI GreshamWI

Merrillan ↔ Gresham104 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

MerrillanGresham

People

Population 527Lowest 570Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.7%Highest WI: +3.6% -9.6%Lowest WI: +3.6%

Median age 36±4.7Lowest 10% below WI 37.2±5.8Highest 7% below WI

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 22.8%±4.6Lowest WI: 21.4% 31.2%±8.2Highest WI: 21.4%

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 20.7%±6.4Lowest WI: 18.5% 22.3%±3.7Highest WI: 18.5%

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13%Highest WI: 33.4% 11.4%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±2.7Lowest WI: 5.8% 2.5%±1.7Highest WI: 5.8%

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $52,273±$8kLowest 33% below WI $55,625±$19kHighest 28% below WI

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $139,600±$23kHighest 48% below WI $102,800±$26kLowest 61% below WI

Merrillan and Gresham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $775±$151Lowest 29% below WI $800±$374Highest 26% below WI

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,356Lowest 64% below WI $1,682Highest 56% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 35.2%±18.3Lowest WI: 43.7% 42.2%±26.4Highest WI: 43.7%

Gresham and Merrillan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 19.4%Highest WI: 10.6% 13.3%Lowest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 72.4%Highest WI: 67.8% 69.7%Lowest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1961Lowest 14 yrs older than WI 1973Highest 2 yrs older than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 20% below WI 21 minHighest 4% below WI

Work from home 10.4%±11.9Highest WI: 13.1% 4.6%±3.9Lowest WI: 13.1%

Merrillan and Gresham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 5%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.8 miHighest 11.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.10Lowest 0.77Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Black River Falls (20%)Bartelme (17%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in GreshamFew work in Merrillan

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.2%Lowest 0.6%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.9 miLowest 1.4 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miLowest 1.2 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 42.6Highest 28.7Lowest

Schools

School district Alma Center School DistrictGresham School District

High school in town None in townGresham High

Students per teacherat that high school — 10.5

Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Merrillan neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Merrillan’s Town Square.

Gresham neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Gresham’s Town Square.

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Towns like Merrillan

Endeavor458 people · $148K homes

Melrose562 people · $152K homes

Gays Mills523 people · $165K homes

Wauzeka591 people · $143K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.