As of the 2000 Census, Merritt Island had a total population of 36,090 - 18,477 (51.20 percent) females and 17,613 (48.8 percent) males. The median age was 42.60 years. Twenty-one point eight zero percent (21.80%) of the population was under 18 years and 19.80 percent was 65 years and older.
For people reporting one race alone;
Note: People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
As of the 2000 Census, Merritt Island had a total of 15,814 housing units, 5.40 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 75.58 percent were in single-unit structures, 19.70 percent were in multi-unit structures, and 4.40 percent were mobile homes. Thirteen point six zero percent (13.60%) of the housing units in Merritt Island were built since 1990.
As of the 2000 Census, Merritt Island had 14,955 occupied housing units - 11,196 (74.90 percent) owner occupied and 3,759 (25.10 percent) renter occupied. One point six zero percent (1.60%) of the households did not have telephone service and 6.60 percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Multi-Vehicle households were not rare; 59.23 percent had two vehicles and another 16.80 percent had three or more.
The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,077, nonmortgaged owners $327, and renters $566. Thirty-two point eight nine percent (32.89%) of owners with mortgages, and 40.14 percent of renters in Merritt Island spent 30 percent or more of household income on housing.
As of the 2000 Census there were 36,090 people comprising 14,955 households in Merritt Island. The average household size was 2.36 people.
Families made up 67.20 percent of the households in Merritt Island. This figure includes both married-couple families (52.90 percent) and other families (14.30 percent). Nonfamily households made up 32.80 percent of all households in Merritt Island. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.
Six point four zero percent (6.40%) of the people living in Merritt Island as of the 2000 Census there were foreign born. Ninety-one point four zero percent (91.40%) were native, including 28.60 percent who were born in Florida.
Among people at least five years old living in Merritt Island as of the 2000 Census, 8.20 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 3.60 percent spoke Spanish and 4.60 percent spoke some other language; 2.50 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."
As of the 2000 Census, 54.20 percent of the people at least five years old living in Merritt Island were living in the same residence in 1995; 26.70 percent had moved during the past 5 years from another residence in Brevard County, 6.30 percent from another county in Florida, 11.70 percent from another state, and less than 1.20 percent from abroad.
As of the 2000 Census, 88.40 percent of people 25 years and over in Merritt Island had at least graduated from high school and 28.20 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Eight point nine zero percent (8.90%) were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.
The total school enrollment in Merritt Island was 8,473 as of the 2000 Census. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 941 children and elementary or high school enrollment was 5,794 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 1,738 people.
In Merritt Island, among people at least five years old as of the 2000 Census, 21.11 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 11.30 percent of people 5 to 20 years old, to 20.40 percent of people 21 to 64 years old, and to 40.50 percent of those 65 and older.
As of the 2000 Census, for the employed population 16 years and older, the leading industries in Merritt Island were Educational, Health And Social Services, 17.10 percent, and Retail Trade at 13.30 percent.
The most common occupations reported in Merritt Island, Florida were:
Seventy-six point five zero percent (76.50%) of the people employed were Private wage and salary workers; 16.40 percent were Federal, state, or local government workers; and 6.90 percent were Self-employed in own not incorporated business.
Eighty-four point eight zero percent (84.80%) of Merritt Island workers drove to work alone as of the 2000 Census, 9.40 percent carpooled, 0.30 percent took public transportation, and 1.50 percent used other means. The remaining 2.80 percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 24 minutes to get to work.
The median income of households in Merritt Island was $43,532. Seventy-three point one zero percent (73.10%) of Merritt Island households received earnings and 27.00 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Thirty-four point four zero percent (34.40%) of Merritt Island households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $11,652. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.
As of the 2000 Census, 9.40 percent of Merritt Island residents were in poverty. Thirteen point eight zero percent (13.80%) of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 7.00 percent of people 65 years old and over. Seven point two zero percent (7.20%) of all Merritt Island families and 25.70 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.
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