County · Pennsylvania
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Mercer County had 107,860 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. It holds 50 places (17 cities, villages and boroughs, 31 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 35 census tracts. GEOID 42085.
Mercer County is the county of the Hermitage, PA micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
107,860
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 110,652 · ACS 2020-2024: 109,257
Median household income
$59,976
±$1,687 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$164,000
±$3,160 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$843
±$35 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
How many people live in Mercer County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 110,652 residents in Mercer County. The Census Bureau estimates 107,860 for July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 109,257 over 673 square miles of land.
| Measure | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 109,257 | 13,018,639 | −2,261 |
| Households | 46,524±489 | 5,274,853 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.21±0.02 | 2.39 | −0.04 |
| Housing units | 50,930±117 | 5,806,452 | −1,332 |
Mercer County's population since 2000
From 120,293 in 2000 to 107,860 in 2025: down 10.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Mercer County?
Mercer County holds 50 places: 17 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 31 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Hermitage with 16,308 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Mercer County?
The median resident of Mercer County is 45.1 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 23.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 5.6%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1±0.3 | 40.9 | +0.4 |
| Under 18 years | 18.9% | 20.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.1%±0.1 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% | 8.7% | +0.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.9%±0.4 pts | 73.0% | −2.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.6%±0.3 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.1 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7%±0.5 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8%±0.3 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.1%±0.4 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.6%±0.5 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 17.3%±0.8 pts | 14.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4%±0.6 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.7%±0.7 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.6%±1.0 pts | 35.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.6%±0.7 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7%±0.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Mercer County earn?
Half of Mercer County's 46,524 households earn less than $59,976 a year (±$1,687), against $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 the median was $62,391 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $2,415 after inflation. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,976±$1,687 | $77,971 | −$2,415 |
| Mean household income | $79,381±$2,166 | $107,538 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,033±$885 | $44,355 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.2%±1.0 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.6%±2.1 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.4%±1.2 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.7%±1.3 pts | 89.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Mercer County?
Owners occupy 72.4% of Mercer County's occupied homes and renters 27.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $164,000 by its owner (±$3,160). The median renter pays $843 a month including utilities, and 37.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $164,000±$3,160 | $254,500 | +$14,963 |
| Median gross rent | $843±$35 | $1,209 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.2%±4.0 pts | 39.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,266±$32 | $1,762 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.4%±1.3 pts | 69.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 50,930±117 | 5,806,452 | −1,332 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3%±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6%±1.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.0%±1.0 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.0%±0.6 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 22.1%±1.1 pts | 25.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Mercer County building?
Builders took permits for 90 new housing units across Mercer County in 2025 (78 single-family), 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Mercer County get to work?
79.6% of Mercer County's workers drive alone and 9.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.6%±0.8 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3%±0.8 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.6%±1.1 pts | 68.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.4%±0.7 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Walked | 2.9%±0.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.3%±0.9 pts | 15.6% | +4.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.7 min±0.8 | 26.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Mercer County's census tracts?
Mercer County is divided into 35 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $21,041 (Tract 332) to $95,156 (Tract 328.02).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Mercer County compare with Pennsylvania's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 30th of 67 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 52nd of 67 |
| Residents per square mile | 31st of 67 |
| Median household income | 61st of 67 |
| Median home value | 45th of 67 |
| Median gross rent | 41st of 67 |
| Poverty rate | 18th of 67 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28th of 67 |
| Median age | 20th of 67 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Mercer County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.