Mercer County, Missouri 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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C
Mercer County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mercer County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,611 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,580 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.2% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 13% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing faster in Mercer County (4.7%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Mercer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mercer County, Missouri grew by 84.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,611 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mercer County
| Metric | Mercer County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,948 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,199 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.2% | 20.6% | 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 0.529, about the same as Missouri's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Mercer County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $271,215 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, Missouri has narrowed from about 29% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2022 women out-earned men by 10%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,861 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mercer County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.2% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 53 people are unemployed in Mercer County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Mercer County is 21 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mercer County, Missouri has fallen from 9.3% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.3% in 2023.
Mercer County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mercer County, MO is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,482 residents against a local median of 7,759. The measure that sets Mercer County, MO apart most is unemployment: 3.5%, 39% above the local median of 2.5%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.7%/yr against a local median of 3.9%/yr, 22% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Mercer County, MO is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.2% on unemployment, so Mercer County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mercer County, MO has the 6th 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, MO | 3,482 | $61,611 #2/6 | 4.7%/yr #3/6 | 3.5% #6/6 | 0.529 #5/6 |
| Grundy County, MO | 9,787 | $52,818 | 3.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.539 |
| Decatur County, IA | 7,759 | $58,830 | 5.5%/yr | 1.9% | 0.507 |
| Wayne County, IA | 6,531 | $61,690 | 4.8%/yr | 2.9% | 0.498 |
| Harrison County, MO | 8,190 | $54,831 | 3.9%/yr | 2.5% | 0.509 |
| Sullivan County, MO | 5,857 | $55,826 | 3.5%/yr | 2.5% | 0.525 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mercer County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Missouri, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mercer County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Mercer County, Missouri?
Mercer County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $61,611, about 13% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Mercer County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mercer County, Missouri rose 84%, from $33,450 to $61,611. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +84% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mercer County, Missouri was $60,542, up 12% from $53,928 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mercer County, Missouri was $50,044. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $61,611.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mercer County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Mercer County is 0.529. 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, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mercer County, Missouri has narrowed from about 29% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2022 women out-earned men by 10%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,861 since 2009.
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