Population 23,028 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mercer County
Household size in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Mercer County has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Kentucky. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.1 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Mercer County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.0, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Mercer County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, in line with the national trend. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only four have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Mercer County
Renters in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.7% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.1% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.1% of households in Mercer County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (43.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.2 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.1% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Mercer County: 13.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Mercer County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $579 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $579 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $705 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $830 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$251 | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Mercer County pays $830 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $251 a month from 2006–10, a 43% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Mercer County
Bachelor's degrees in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.2% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Mercer County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.8%, against 35.6% nationally. The picture is much the same across Kentucky. The share with a degree is up 7.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.7% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.8% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.0% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Mercer County is a bit above the national rate: 92.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 9.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Mercer County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Kentucky counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Mercer County than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Mercer County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | 2.53 | 42.6 | 7.4% | 24.1% | 13.1% | 1981 | $830 | 24.8% | 92.0% | 4.5% |
| Boyle County | 2.31 | 40.7 | 11.5% | 32.0% | 8.9% | 1977 | $771 | 25.6% | 91.4% | 6.3% |
| Jessamine County | 2.74 | 38.2 | 11.2% | 33.3% | 7.8% | 1993 | $1,239 | 33.7% | 90.7% | 3.0% |
| Garrard County | 2.64 | 42.1 | 9.6% | 20.1% | 8.2% | 1985 | $834 | 18.5% | 85.3% | 5.6% |
| Washington County | 2.47 | 41.5 | 11.2% | 22.4% | 8.0% | 1982 | $776 | 19.3% | 89.2% | 3.2% |
| Madison County | 2.48 | 36.8 | 10.7% | 38.0% | 9.2% | 1993 | $905 | 33.4% | 91.4% | 4.3% |
| Nelson County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 11.4% | 21.7% | 6.6% | 1991 | $974 | 23.5% | 92.2% | 3.5% |
| Estill County | 2.34 | 44.6 | 14.0% | 29.6% | 13.6% | 1980 | $704 | 12.2% | 78.5% | 7.2% |
| Powell County | 2.65 | 39.0 | 14.7% | 31.8% | 15.4% | 1985 | $837 | 13.3% | 81.7% | 5.4% |
| Hardin County | 2.53 | 38.3 | 13.3% | 37.4% | 9.6% | 1987 | $1,028 | 25.7% | 93.0% | 5.9% |
| Wolfe County | 2.42 | 42.3 | 10.8% | 26.4% | 11.6% | 1990 | $585 | 9.6% | 70.1% | 14.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Polk County, TN · Johnson County, IL · Johnson County, KY · Johnson County, TN · King George County, VA · King William County, VA · Kleberg County, TX · Klickitat County, WA · Knox County, KY · Abbeville County, SC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Mercer County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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