| | Merlin, OR | Sparta, MO | United States |
| Population | 1,767 | 2,230 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 46.6% | 53.7% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 53.4% | 46.3% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 54.9 | 39.7 | 38.4 |
| space3 | | | |
| Population - 2010 | 1,906 | 1,845 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 1,528 | 1,144 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 1,197 | 751 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | 8.3% | 81.5% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | 38.3% | 176.4% | 30.8% |
| space4 | | | |
| Population Density | 425.0 | 1,801.3 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 4.2 | 1.2 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.0 | 0.0 | 264,836.8 |
| space | | | |
| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | Merlin, OR | Sparta, MO | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 1.2% | 6.3% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 4.8% | 5.7% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 2.0% | 7.7% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 7.0% | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 0.0% | 2.0% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 0.4% | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 8.2% | 15.8% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 12.0% | 12.1% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 14.5% | 10.1% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 9.9% | 3.8% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 14.2% | 9.4% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 14.1% | 13.8% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 10.5% | 5.3% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 1.1% | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| space1 | | | |
| Race | | | |
| | Merlin, OR | Sparta, MO | United States |
| White | 79.0% | 97.5% | 59.4% |
| Black | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 3.5% | 0.0% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 15.2% | 1.3% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 2.3% | 1.2% | 18.4% |
| space2 | | | |
| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | Merlin, OR | Sparta, MO | United States |
| Married Population | 70.2% | 60.9% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 67.8% | 57.7% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 2.3% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 29.8% | 39.1% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 21.0% | 16.9% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 5.4% | 14.9% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 3.4% | 7.3% | 5.6% |
| space5 | | | |
| Household Size | 2.48 | 2.46 | 2.60 |
| Households | 712 | 905 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 576 | 688 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 25.5% | 25.1% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 63.0% | 50.7% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 136 | 217 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 0.0% | 17.6% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 11.5% | 6.5% | 10.8% |