Population 8,337 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mercer County
Household size in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Mercer County are small: just 2.31 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has crept up from 2.26 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.8 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.5 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
Mercer County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 45.9, even as the national median rose.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Mercer County: 6.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Mercer County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About six in ten owners (59.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, 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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.2% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Mercer County: 21.8% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +11 | +6 |
The typical home in Mercer County was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are older than in North Dakota as a whole, where the median home dates to 1985. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $403 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $630 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $754 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,117 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$714 | +$458 | +$606 |
The median renter in Mercer County pays $1,117 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in North Dakota as a whole ($1,031). Rents are up $714 a month from 2006–10, a 177% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.4% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.1% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Mercer County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.9% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Mercer County is a bit above the national rate: 91.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in North Dakota overall (94.1%). The share with a diploma is up 7.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mercer County has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. 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 | 2.31 | 45.0 | 6.6% | 18.9% | 21.8% | 1980 | $1,117 | 22.9% | 91.7% | 3.1% |
| Oliver County | 2.53 | 46.2 | 5.7% | 4.8% | 18.9% | 1975 | $756 | 23.8% | 94.8% | 1.1% |
| McLean County | 2.25 | 47.8 | 5.6% | 15.8% | 24.1% | 1977 | $760 | 26.8% | 93.8% | 1.3% |
| Dunn County | 2.57 | 40.5 | 5.3% | 25.7% | 24.8% | 1984 | $911 | 26.7% | 94.1% | 3.2% |
| Morton County | 2.41 | 38.1 | 8.7% | 25.8% | 9.6% | 1987 | $1,040 | 29.1% | 94.8% | 1.5% |
| Burleigh County | 2.43 | 39.5 | 8.0% | 28.8% | 5.8% | 1990 | $1,160 | 39.4% | 95.1% | 2.0% |
| Stark County | 2.43 | 35.3 | 11.3% | 33.2% | 14.9% | 1990 | $988 | 29.1% | 92.1% | 3.3% |
| Sheridan County | 1.91 | 51.5 | 3.9% | 16.0% | 19.5% | 1967 | $373 | 18.9% | 90.2% | 1.1% |
| Billings County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 3.2% | 22.1% | 25.5% | 1983 | $621 | 32.6% | 95.2% | 2.1% |
| McKenzie County | 2.48 | 33.4 | 11.6% | 46.6% | 20.7% | 2005 | $1,471 | 17.9% | 89.7% | 2.4% |
| Kidder County | 2.04 | 48.5 | 2.4% | 23.9% | 30.1% | 1971 | $924 | 26.6% | 91.4% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Rains County, TX · Jefferson County, MT · Jefferson County, NE · Jefferson County, OK · Jefferson Davis County, MS · Jenkins County, GA · Jerauld County, SD · Jewell County, KS · Jim Hogg County, TX · Johnson County, GA
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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