Population 109,257 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mercer County
Household size in Mercer County
| Period | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Mercer County is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.36 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, only five have smaller households.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.9 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.4, Mercer County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.9, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the center.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Mercer County than nationally: 8.9%, against 11.6%. 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.0% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.5% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Mercer County rent their homes (27.6%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Just over half of owners (52.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Mercer County is close to the national rate: 9.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Mercer County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the west.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $618 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $620 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $737 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $896 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$278 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in Mercer County runs $896 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $278 a month since 2006–10, up 45%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.4% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Mercer County than nationally: 26.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.1% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.1% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Mercer County is a bit above the national rate: 91.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Pennsylvania. The share with a diploma is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mercer County is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 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 | 2.26 | 45.4 | 8.9% | 27.6% | 9.1% | 1965 | $896 | 26.3% | 91.9% | 5.3% |
| Trumbull County | 2.38 | 43.6 | 11.5% | 28.7% | 9.4% | 1965 | $830 | 21.2% | 89.3% | 4.5% |
| Clarion County | 2.39 | 43.0 | 8.2% | 27.5% | 17.1% | 1964 | $793 | 24.2% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Portage County | 2.38 | 41.1 | 8.5% | 29.9% | 9.3% | 1978 | $1,090 | 35.2% | 93.2% | 5.0% |
| Summit County | 2.37 | 42.6 | 11.8% | 32.5% | 7.7% | 1968 | $1,210 | 36.0% | 92.7% | 5.3% |
| Medina County | 2.55 | 43.8 | 7.5% | 19.7% | 5.1% | 1985 | $1,338 | 37.2% | 94.5% | 3.0% |
| Lorain County | 2.49 | 42.7 | 10.7% | 26.0% | 6.8% | 1976 | $1,190 | 29.3% | 91.8% | 4.3% |
| Huron County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 12.4% | 26.0% | 9.8% | 1967 | $884 | 16.7% | 90.7% | 4.5% |
| Sandusky County | 2.38 | 43.1 | 13.2% | 26.6% | 8.3% | 1961 | $811 | 18.6% | 93.5% | 4.2% |
| Seneca County | 2.38 | 41.5 | 12.0% | 26.6% | 8.5% | 1960 | $848 | 20.5% | 93.4% | 3.4% |
| Clinton County | 2.38 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 27.7% | 14.6% | 1967 | $899 | 21.4% | 90.4% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Fayette County, GA · Allegan County, MI · Androscoggin County, ME · Douglas County, KS · Carroll County, GA · Wayne County, NC · Tom Green County, TX · Monongalia County, WV · Potter County, TX · Platte County, MO
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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