Mercer County, North Dakota 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.
-
B
Mercer County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in North Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mercer County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,349 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $63,783 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 1.6% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 17.4% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.8% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 8% higher than in North Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Mercer County (1.6%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Mercer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Dakota average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mercer County, North Dakota grew by 46.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,349 in 2024. That's an average of about 1.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mercer County
| Metric | Mercer County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $90,860 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,042 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 44.9% | 21.2% | 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 0.538, higher than North Dakota's 0.506, so income is less 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 82% more than women's income in Mercer County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 82% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,428,630 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, North Dakota has narrowed from about 46% to 45% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 55% in 2022, and was narrowest at 44% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,876 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mercer County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.2% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 94 people are unemployed in Mercer County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Mercer County is 15 minutes, longer than the 13 minutes in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mercer County, North Dakota has fallen from 3.9% to 2.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.9% in 2014 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2018.
Mercer County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mercer County, ND is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,337 residents against a local median of 9,823. Where Mercer County, ND breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 65% above the local median of 1.5% at 2.5%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 1.6%/yr against a local median of 2.7%/yr, 41% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Mercer County, ND reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 2.4% on unemployment, so Mercer County, ND sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mercer County, ND has the 4th 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, ND | 8,337 | $83,349 #2/6 | 1.6%/yr #6/6 | 2.5% #4/6 | 0.538 #6/6 |
| Oliver County, ND | 1,839 | $79,756 | 2.7%/yr | 1.0% | 0.497 |
| McLean County, ND | 9,823 | $82,764 | 4.2%/yr | 1.4% | 0.509 |
| Dunn County, ND | 4,040 | $97,185 | 4.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.496 |
| Morton County, ND | 33,777 | $79,602 | 2.7%/yr | 1.5% | 0.482 |
| Ward County, ND | 68,973 | $78,102 | 2.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mercer County, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mercer County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Mercer County, North Dakota?
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 $83,349, about 8% higher than the North Dakota average of $76,862.
How fast is household income rising in Mercer County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mercer County, North Dakota rose 47%, from $56,792 to $83,349. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Dakota as a whole: +47% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mercer County, North Dakota was $78,655, down 4% from $81,781 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mercer County, North Dakota was $82,460. By 2024 it had risen 1% to $83,349.
Do many residents of Mercer County, North Dakota earn over $100,000?
Yes. 17% of adults in Mercer County, North Dakota earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Dakota. 7% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Dakota.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mercer County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Mercer County is 0.538. 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, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mercer County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 46% to 45% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 55% in 2022, and was narrowest at 44% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,876 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →