Mercer County, MO 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 | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,505 | 6,177,646 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 7.7 | 88.7 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.79% | 0.26% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 41.7 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,288 | 2,484,450 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Mercer County grew by 0.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 3,501 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 | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,542 | $69,051 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.15% | 4.84% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 12% lower than in Missouri.
Housing
| Metric | Mercer County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $9,499 | $136,017 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $547 | $995 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.1% | 67.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Mercer County is about 1.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $547 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Mercer County spend about 42 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 173 hours, about 7.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Mercer County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.8 | 21.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 41.6 | 42.1 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 173 | 175 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,377 | $5,435 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,656 | 7,545 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 218 | 923 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Missouri:
Saline County (11.5 min), Nodaway County (11.9 min), Adair County (12.1 min).
Slowest:
Bollinger County (33.1 min), Dallas County (31.6 min), Caldwell County (31.0 min).
The average commute time in Mercer County is about the same as in Missouri.
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 | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.66 | 2.42 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Missouri:
St. Louis County (0.4), Platte County (0.4), Boone County (0.4).
Lowest:
Bollinger County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Ripley County (0.2).
Health
Mercer County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Mercer County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.3 | 76.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 17.5% | 19.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.8% | 22.8% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Missouri:
St. Charles County (0.8), Platte County (0.8), Boone County (0.8).
Lowest:
Scotland County (0.7), Ripley County (0.7), Pemiscot County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Mercer County, Missouri.
What is the population of Mercer County, Missouri?
The population of Mercer County, Missouri is 3,505, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Mercer County, Missouri?
The population density of Mercer County, Missouri is 7.7 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, Missouri?
The median household income in Mercer County, Missouri is $60,542, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Mercer County, Missouri?
The median home price in Mercer County, Missouri is $9,499, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Mercer County, Missouri?
The unemployment rate in Mercer County, Missouri is 2.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.