Mercer County, KY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Mercer County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,523 | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 88.9 | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.90% | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 9,137 | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Mercer County grew by 4.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 22,824 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Mercer County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Mercer County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,022 | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.86% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 2% higher than in Kentucky.
Housing
| Metric | Mercer County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $55,000 | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $802 | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Mercer County is about 5.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $802 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Mercer County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 183 hours, about 7.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Mercer County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.0 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 44.0 | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 183 | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,678 | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,273 | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 412 | 832 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kentucky:
Calloway County (13.4 min), McCracken County (14.0 min), Clinton County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Owen County (37.1 min), Menifee County (36.6 min), Bracken County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Mercer County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Kentucky.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Mercer County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Mercer County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.47 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kentucky:
Fayette County (0.4), Oldham County (0.4), Campbell County (0.3).
Lowest:
Leslie County (0.1), Lee County (0.1), Elliott County (0.1).
Health
Mercer County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Mercer County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.7 | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 20.1% | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.3% | 26.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kentucky:
Oldham County (0.8), Boone County (0.8), Scott County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.7), Bell County (0.7), McCreary County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Mercer County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Mercer County, Kentucky?
The population of Mercer County, Kentucky is 22,523, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Mercer County, Kentucky?
The population density of Mercer County, Kentucky is 88.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Mercer County, Kentucky?
The median household income in Mercer County, Kentucky is $64,022, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Mercer County, Kentucky?
The median home price in Mercer County, Kentucky is $55,000, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Mercer County, Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Mercer County, Kentucky is 2.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.