| | Merkel, TX | Fort Smith, AR | United States |
| Population | 2,290 | 89,116 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 52.9% | 50.7% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 47.1% | 49.4% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 33.3 | 37 | 38.4 |
| space3 | | | |
| Population - 2010 | 2,591 | 86,303 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 2,637 | 80,268 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 2,469 | 72,798 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | -0.3% | 9.3% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | 6.5% | 20.6% | 30.8% |
| space4 | | | |
| Population Density | 818.4 | 1,408.1 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 2.8 | 63.3 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.0 | 5.0 | 264,836.8 |
| space | | | |
| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | Merkel, TX | Fort Smith, AR | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 7.5% | 6.8% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 9.2% | 6.4% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 13.4% | 6.4% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 7.3% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 1.1% | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 8.9% | 13.9% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 14.1% | 12.8% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 11.6% | 11.7% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 2.9% | 6.6% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 6.0% | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 8.3% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 4.1% | 3.7% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 1.2% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| space1 | | | |
| Race | | | |
| | Merkel, TX | Fort Smith, AR | United States |
| White | 72.6% | 59.3% | 59.4% |
| Black | 0.8% | 8.3% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 0.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 0.4% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 6.1% | 6.1% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 19.7% | 19.4% | 18.4% |
| space2 | | | |
| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | Merkel, TX | Fort Smith, AR | United States |
| Married Population | 55.3% | 47.3% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 50.8% | 44.5% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 4.5% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 44.7% | 52.7% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 25.2% | 32.6% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 13.5% | 14.2% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 6.0% | 5.9% | 5.6% |
| space5 | | | |
| Household Size | 2.86 | 2.43 | 2.60 |
| Households | 785 | 36,166 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 538 | 22,666 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 44.6% | 27.5% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 28.4% | 37.2% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 247 | 13,500 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 19.9% | 23.8% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 7.1% | 11.5% | 10.8% |