Mercer County, New Jersey 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 average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mercer County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $100,788 | $103,817 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $73,729 | $76,200 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.2% | 19.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 21.3% | 21.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 3% lower than in New Jersey. Income has been growing slower in Mercer County (3.9%/yr) than in New Jersey (4.4%/yr).
About 19% of adults in Mercer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New Jersey average of 20%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mercer County, New Jersey grew by 39.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $100,788 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mercer County
| Metric | Mercer County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.552 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $84,789 | $87,197 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $68,888 | $70,502 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.8% | 19.1% | 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 0.552, higher than New Jersey's 0.544, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Mercer County, New Jersey. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $556,535 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, New Jersey has narrowed from about 21% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,929 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mercer County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.5% | 16.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 26 | 22 |
Approximately 12,783 people are unemployed in Mercer County, New Jersey.
The average commute time in Mercer County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 26 minutes in New Jersey.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mercer County, New Jersey has fallen from 8.9% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 6.0% in 2020.
Mercer County, NJ Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mercer County, NJ is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 385,681 residents against a local median of 467,571. Where Mercer County, NJ breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 33% above the local median of 4.7% at 6.3%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.3% on unemployment, so Mercer County, NJ sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mercer County, NJ has the 5th 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, NJ | 385,681 | $100,788 #6/6 | 3.9%/yr #3/6 | 6.3% #5/6 | 0.552 #5/6 |
| Somerset County, NJ | 349,714 | $140,426 | 3.9%/yr | 4.7% | 0.515 |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 870,701 | $112,064 | 4.2%/yr | 6.7% | 0.552 |
| Hunterdon County, NJ | 130,145 | $142,458 | 3.3%/yr | 4.6% | 0.510 |
| Burlington County, NJ | 467,571 | $108,527 | 3.9%/yr | 5.2% | 0.519 |
| Bucks County, PA | 647,283 | $115,660 | 4.8%/yr | 4.4% | 0.519 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mercer County, New Jersey has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with New Jersey, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mercer County, New Jersey.
How Rich Is Mercer County, New Jersey?
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 $100,788, about 3% lower than the New Jersey average of $103,817.
How has median household income changed in Mercer County, New Jersey?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mercer County, New Jersey rose 40%, from $72,071 to $100,788. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New Jersey as a whole: +40% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mercer County, New Jersey was $96,656, up 3% from $94,070 in 2022. The New Jersey median that year was $101,191.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mercer County, New Jersey was $84,906. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $100,788.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mercer County, New Jersey?
The Gini coefficient in Mercer County is 0.552. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Mercer County, New Jersey?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mercer County, New Jersey has narrowed from about 21% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,929 since 2009.
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