Population 42,484 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mercer County
Household size in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.62 people per household, Mercer County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Ohio as a whole, where it has 2.46 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.66, mirroring the country.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Mercer County are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.1, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the east.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Mercer County: 7.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Mercer County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Ohio counties.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.0% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Mercer County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Mercer County as nationally: 9.8%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is little changed from 2006–10, while 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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Mercer County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The picture is much the same across Ohio. The median year built has moved up from 1966 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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $613 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $653 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $675 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $825 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$212 | +$377 | +$606 |
Rent in Mercer County runs $825 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $212 a month since 2006–10, up 35%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southeast.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.3% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.4% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Mercer County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.4%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.8 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Mercer County: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Ohio's 88 counties, only five have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Mercer County has been strong: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Ohio county has lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 4.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | 2.62 | 40.2 | 7.9% | 20.4% | 9.8% | 1972 | $825 | 22.4% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Auglaize County | 2.44 | 41.8 | 9.6% | 21.9% | 6.5% | 1967 | $946 | 22.2% | 95.0% | 2.8% |
| Jay County | 2.60 | 39.0 | 11.8% | 20.1% | 12.6% | 1959 | $781 | 13.0% | 85.5% | 4.2% |
| Blackford County | 2.28 | 44.9 | 9.8% | 26.1% | 10.6% | 1958 | $757 | 15.2% | 90.4% | 3.7% |
| Hardin County | 2.50 | 37.6 | 8.7% | 25.3% | 11.0% | 1965 | $830 | 21.7% | 92.3% | 4.5% |
| Grant County | 2.30 | 40.4 | 13.9% | 27.3% | 11.1% | 1963 | $926 | 21.8% | 89.5% | 6.6% |
| Marion County | 2.98 | 40.7 | 13.0% | 32.5% | 15.9% | 1962 | $870 | 14.8% | 88.5% | 11.4% |
| Howard County | 2.35 | 40.6 | 13.4% | 29.4% | 11.0% | 1968 | $948 | 20.3% | 91.3% | 5.7% |
| Morrow County | 2.62 | 44.0 | 9.2% | 18.8% | 8.6% | 1982 | $1,007 | 19.8% | 90.6% | 3.0% |
| Carroll County | 2.57 | 42.6 | 8.2% | 17.8% | 13.6% | 1964 | $900 | 17.2% | 89.0% | 3.5% |
| Knox County | 2.63 | 40.7 | 9.4% | 24.5% | 10.5% | 1973 | $959 | 25.0% | 90.3% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Juncos Municipio, PR · Preble County, OH · Polk County, WI · Polk County, GA · Pittsburg County, OK · Oktibbeha County, MS · Knox County, IN · Kendall County, TX · Kay County, OK · Kandiyohi County, MN
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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