County · West Virginia

Mercer County, West Virginia

Mercer County, West Virginia. Mercer County had 57,503 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.6% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). It holds 10 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 5 census-designated) and 16 census tracts. GEOID 54055.

Mercer County is one of the 2 counties of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

57,503

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 59,664 · ACS 2020-2024: 58,563

Median household income

$53,210

±$3,616 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$121,700

±$10,048 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$810

±$47 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

How many people live in Mercer County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 59,664 residents in Mercer County. The Census Bureau estimates 57,503 for July 1, 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 58,563 over 419 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −344 (59,184)
2021→2022 −567 (58,617)
2022→2023 −527 (58,090)
2023→2024 −538 (57,552)
2024→2025 −49 (57,503)

Mercer County in West Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Mercer County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	58,563	1,778,373	−1,356
Households	24,224±574	728,655	−992
Average household size	2.36±0.06	2.37	no clear change
Housing units	29,345±54	861,325	−652

Mercer County's population since 2000

From 62,980 in 2000 to 57,503 in 2025: down 8.7%. 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.

2000 Census 62,980
2005 (estimate) 61,303
2010 Census 62,264
2015 (estimate) 61,187
2020 Census 59,664
2025 (estimate) 57,503

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 10 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 5 census-designated places. The largest is Bluefield with 9,158 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Mercer County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Bluefield	city	9,658	9,387±20	$49,375	$105,400	18.5%	100%
Princeton	city	5,872	5,736±32	$43,900	$120,300	16.9%	100%
Bluewell	CDP	2,162	1,992±549	$35,168	$125,500	18.3%	100%
Brush ForkGEOID 5410948	CDP	1,065	1,096±388	$70,098	$90,000	9.2%	100%
Athens	town	962	1,494±394	$56,667	$168,100	19.4%	100%
MontcalmGEOID 5455372	CDP	575	484±395	$63,024	not published	16.5%	100%
LashmeetGEOID 5445292	CDP	409	655±396	not published	$187,500	13.0%	100%
BramwellGEOID 5409796	town	276	135±66	$53,929	$93,000	23.7%	100%
MatoakaGEOID 5452420	CDP	173	30±33	$16,786	not published	93.3%	100%
OakvaleGEOID 5460196	town	133	254±203	not published	not published	10.3%	100%

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 43.5 years old; 20.8% are under 18 and 22.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.2%. 0.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Mercer County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.5±0.4	42.7	no clear change
Under 18 years	20.8%±0.2 pts	20.0%	–
65 years and over	22.9%±0.2 pts	21.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.3%	2.1%	+0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	88.6%±0.9 pts	89.7%	−1.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	4.1%±0.6 pts	3.1%	−2.1 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.8%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.3 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	5.2%±1.0 pts	3.9%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	0.6%±0.2 pts	1.8%	−0.4 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.9%±0.6 pts	2.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.4%±0.9 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	23.3%±1.6 pts	19.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.9%±0.9 pts	6.0%	−1.4 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.6%±1.5 pts	89.3%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	22.9%±1.8 pts	24.1%	+3.5 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.2%±1.2 pts	9.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	4.5%±1.5 pts	2.4%	–

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 24,224 households earn less than $53,210 a year (±$3,616), against $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $50,193 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mercer County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$53,210±$3,616	$59,608	no clear change
Mean household income	$71,510±$4,921	$81,190	–
Per capita income	$30,362±$1,912	$34,203	+$3,026
People below the poverty line	16.5%±2.1 pts	16.7%	−3.3 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	19.0%±4.6 pts	21.5%	−8.6 pts
Households receiving SNAP	21.6%±2.0 pts	17.3%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.5%±1.8 pts	86.1%	–

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 72.9% of Mercer County's occupied homes and renters 27.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,700 by its owner (±$10,048). The median renter pays $810 a month including utilities, and 38.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mercer County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$121,700±$10,048	$162,600	no clear change
Median gross rent	$810±$47	$872	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	38.9%±7.4 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,151±$51	$1,255	–
Owner-occupied homes	72.9%±2.5 pts	74.9%	+3.4 pts
Housing units	29,345±54	861,325	−652
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.7 pts	1.2%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.8%±2.6 pts	6.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	66.8%±2.0 pts	70.9%	–
Mobile homes	20.2%±1.9 pts	13.6%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.4 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	16.1%±1.5 pts	14.9%	–

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 5 new housing units across Mercer County in 2025 (5 single-family), 0.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 4 units
2020 5 units
2021 5 units
2022 1 units
2023 8 units
2024 9 units
2025 5 units

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?

81.9% of Mercer County's workers drive alone and 6.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mercer County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	50.8%±1.7 pts	53.8%	–
Unemployment rate	2.7%±0.9 pts	5.4%	−4.6 pts
Drove alone to work	81.9%±2.2 pts	78.1%	–
Carpooled	7.0%±1.5 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.5%±0.4 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	2.1%±0.9 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	6.6%±1.5 pts	9.1%	+3.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.0 min±1.3	26.6 min	+1.9 min

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 16 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $36,875 (Tract 19) to $96,125 (Tract 9).

Census tracts of Mercer County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 954055000900	Matoaka (10%)	3,202	2,911±621	$96,125	$230,000	not published	6.6%
Tract 1054055001000	Lashmeet (7%)	4,455	4,704±752	$41,886	$117,600	$867	19.6%
Tract 1154055001100	Athens (24%)	6,056	6,130±661	$72,429	$136,400	$800	13.2%
Tract 1254055001200	Princeton (18%)	3,596	3,322±565	$54,207	$177,200	$902	13.5%
Tract 1354055001300	Princeton (85%)	3,728	3,922±487	$42,833	$104,000	$728	18.2%
Tract 1454055001400	Princeton (95%)	1,981	2,465±283	$52,931	$141,900	$989	9.6%
Tract 1554055001500	Princeton (31%)	5,472	6,405±897	$46,463	$170,100	$607	19.4%
Tract 1654055001600	Bramwell (23%)	1,445	1,216±369	$64,079	$97,000	not published	12.3%
Tract 1754055001700	Bluewell (29%)	4,938	5,152±836	$47,361	$115,600	$923	15.8%
Tract 1854055001800	Princeton (11%)	5,581	4,873±629	$61,786	$53,400	$601	15.1%
Tract 1954055001900	Bluefield (74%)	1,491	1,544±288	$36,875	$77,700	$381	20.5%
Tract 2054055002000	Bluefield (89%)	2,419	2,242±327	$43,609	$81,100	$723	20.9%
Tract 2154055002100	Bluefield	2,931	2,842±331	$52,237	$107,100	$771	24.2%
Tract 2254055002200	Bluefield (82%)	4,429	3,859±402	$55,788	$134,400	$968	13.5%
Tract 2354055002300	Princeton (17%)	5,146	4,540±692	$54,844	$107,900	$760	21.1%
Tract 2454055002400	Oakvale (6%)	2,794	2,436±475	$59,306	$120,400	$642	16.8%

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 West Virginia's other counties?

Mercer County's rank among West Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	9th of 55
Growth 2020-2025	26th of 55
Residents per square mile	13th of 55
Median household income	33rd of 55
Median home value	37th of 55
Median gross rent	22nd of 55
Poverty rate	30th of 55
Bachelor's degree or higher	15th of 55
Median age	40th of 55

Every county in West Virginia

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.