Population 705 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Mercer
Household size in Mercer
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.78 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.86 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.61 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.31 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Mercer has 2.48 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of North Carolina. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.78, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Mercer is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Mercer (11.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%.
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
Renters in Mercer
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.8% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.5% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Mercer own their homes; 31.5% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. The picture is much the same across North Carolina. Among homeowners, 47.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.3% of the housing in Mercer, 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.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1991 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Mercer has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across North Carolina.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $529 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $616 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $639 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,183 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$654 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Mercer runs $1,183 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 18.2% 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
Bachelor's degrees in Mercer
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Mercer: 10.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.9% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.3% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Mercer never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S.
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
| Period | Mercer | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mercer has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.7% | 31.5% | 15.3% | 1991 | $1,183 | 10.2% | 86.4% | 3.1% |
| St. Lewis | 2.08 | 62.4 | 11.3% | 37.7% | 12.8% | 1984 | $714 | 13.0% | 84.4% | 14.2% |
| Pinetops | 2.45 | 43.1 | 15.5% | 36.7% | 16.0% | 1983 | $895 | 18.4% | 84.7% | 11.3% |
| Wiggins Crossroads | 2.38 | 54.1 | 12.1% | 15.7% | 10.1% | 1989 | $641 | 11.3% | 81.4% | 7.0% |
| Sharpsburg | 2.65 | 34.3 | 37.1% | 40.0% | 18.2% | 1988 | $1,053 | 14.5% | 88.1% | 0.4% |
| Wilbanks | 2.41 | 40.4 | 18.5% | 27.0% | 13.7% | 1992 | $943 | 15.2% | 79.2% | 4.3% |
| Macclesfield | 2.29 | 40.7 | 25.2% | 19.7% | 11.0% | 1989 | $844 | 23.2% | 89.4% | 4.6% |
| Rocky Mount | 2.38 | 41.2 | 16.2% | 47.2% | 13.9% | 1977 | $954 | 22.6% | 87.0% | 6.9% |
| Tarboro | 2.28 | 47.7 | 14.9% | 37.4% | 14.6% | 1977 | $827 | 22.7% | 87.6% | 4.1% |
| Dortches | 2.56 | 46.8 | 9.5% | 20.3% | 16.7% | 1989 | $1,238 | 29.8% | 93.0% | 2.3% |
| Old Sparta | 2.43 | 51.7 | 16.0% | 20.0% | 12.8% | 1988 | $820 | 11.4% | 83.9% | 10.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: West Milton, PA · Lands End, SC · Lanford, SC · Lashmeet, WV · Lawrence, WI · Leroy, OK · Liberty Hill, SC · Lisbon, IL · Willow River, MN · Williston, OH
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. 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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