City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Mercer, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Mercer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,847
Residents
$44,865
Median income
$130,300
Median home
$996
Median rent (state)

Mercer - the verdict

Nationally, Mercer sits in the 13th percentile for household income and the 44th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

13th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
44th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Mercer, PA

1,847 people live in Mercer, Pennsylvania - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Mercer households earn a median of $44,865 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.1%. Mercer's housing stock carries a median value of $130,300, and the median resident age is 39.5 years. About 19.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Mercer reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1565.0 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Mercer's yearly average temperature at 48.5°F.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $996 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 77.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,847 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$44,865 /yr

Poverty 10.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Mercer compare to other US cities?

Mercer measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities
Safety 44% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Pennsylvania and the picture shifts: Mercer ranks #313 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Mercer's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

13thIncome percentile
44thSafety percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income · 44th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Mercer's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Mercer's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
Mercer's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Mercer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$130,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Mercer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Mercer, PA Mercer, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mercer, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Mercer, PA median $44,865/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Mercer, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Mercer, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,847
Median Income
$44,865
Median Home Value
$130,300
Median Age
39.5
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Labor force participation
47.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1565.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
52.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1512.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.5°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,977 residents 1,905 residents ▼ -3.6%
Mercer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.0%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
10.3%
Other
1.4%

Based on 686 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Mercer sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$996/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

South Connellsville
1,848 people
Watsontown
1,845 people
South Coatesville
1,843 people
Belleville
1,860 people
Stewartstown
1,863 people
Lykens
1,830 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mercer's 1,847 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Springerville, AZ
1,847 people
Waurika, OK
1,847 people
Yosemite Valley, CA
1,848 people
Lester Prairie, MN
1,848 people
Attica, NY
1,846 people
Sterling, GA
1,849 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mercer's $44,865 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Addyston, OH
$44,861 median income
Pilot Knob, MO
$44,853 median income
Locust Grove, OK
$44,853 median income
Jamestown, NY
$44,878 median income
Washington, WV
$44,882 median income
Oakland, ME
$44,846 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mercer, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Mercer, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 96.5% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Mercer compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Mercer (this city) 1,847 $44,865
South Connellsville 1,848 $49,821
Watsontown 1,845 $53,355
South Coatesville 1,843 $72,976
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mercer, PA?

What is the population of Mercer, PA? +

Mercer, PA has a population of 1,847 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Mercer, PA? +

The median household income in Mercer is $44,865 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mercer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Mercer; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is Mercer, PA safe? +

Mercer has a total crime rate of 1565.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Mercer, PA? +

Mercer's median home value sits at $130,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Mercer? +

Climate normals put Mercer's yearly average temperature at 48.5°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.