Mercer County, Illinois Income Statistics
Mercer County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Mercer County Around averageWealthier than 70% of counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mercer County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,025 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,295 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.3% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 12% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Mercer County (3.8%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Mercer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mercer County, Illinois grew by 45.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,025 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mercer County
| Metric | Mercer County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,213 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,668 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 32.1% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Mercer County, it is 0.508, lower than Illinois's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 47% more than women's income in Mercer County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 47% wage gap accumulates to roughly $789,075 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mercer County, Illinois has narrowed from about 36% to 32% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2020, and was narrowest at 29% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,157 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mercer County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.1% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 241 people are unemployed in Mercer County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Mercer County is 26 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mercer County, Illinois has fallen from 5.7% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.5% in 2017 and fell as low as 3.0% in 2023.
Mercer County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mercer County, IL is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 15,495 residents against a local median of 42,559. Mercer County, IL sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 14% below the local median at 3.1% against 3.6%. Mercer County, IL has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County, IL | 15,495 | $74,025 #2/6 | 3.8%/yr #5/6 | 3.1% #1/6 | 0.508 #3/6 |
| Rock Island County, IL | 142,693 | $67,544 | 3.8%/yr | 5.6% | 0.524 |
| Warren County, IL | 16,447 | $68,384 | 5.7%/yr | 3.6% | 0.538 |
| Henderson County, IL | 6,193 | $62,794 | 4.0%/yr | 7.8% | 0.488 |
| Scott County, IA | 174,608 | $78,775 | 4.2%/yr | 3.6% | 0.522 |
| Muscatine County, IA | 42,559 | $69,993 | 2.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.503 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mercer County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Illinois, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mercer County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Mercer County, Illinois?
Mercer County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $74,025, about 12% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Mercer County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mercer County, Illinois rose 46%, from $50,850 to $74,025. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +46% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mercer County, Illinois was $71,831, up 6% from $67,753 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mercer County, Illinois was $57,906. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $74,025.
How strong is the job market in Mercer County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Mercer County, Illinois is only 3.1%, well below the Illinois rate of 5.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mercer County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Mercer County is 0.508. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Mercer County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mercer County, Illinois has narrowed from about 36% to 32% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2020, and was narrowest at 29% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,157 since 2009.
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