Mercer County, West Virginia 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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D
Mercer County Well below averageLess wealthy than 76% of counties in West Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mercer County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,590 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,720 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.1% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mercer County is about 12% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Mercer County (4.4%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Mercer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mercer County, West Virginia grew by 67.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,590 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mercer County
| Metric | Mercer County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,243 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,734 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.6% | 23.0% | 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 0.535, lower than West Virginia's 0.554, so income is more 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 42% more than women's income in Mercer County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $612,815 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, West Virginia has widened from about 29% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2017, and was narrowest at 27% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,479 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mercer County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.6% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 636 people are unemployed in Mercer County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Mercer County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mercer County, West Virginia has fallen from 6.4% to 2.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.3% in 2019.
Mercer County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mercer County, WV is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 58,563 residents against a local median of 16,557. Where Mercer County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 19% above the local median of 3.7%/yr at 4.4%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.6%/yr on income growth, so Mercer County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mercer County, WV has the highest income growth 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, WV | 58,563 | $52,590 #3/6 | 4.4%/yr #1/6 | 2.6% #4/6 | 0.535 #2/6 |
| Bland County, VA | 6,196 | $62,492 | 3.7%/yr | 2.3% | 0.598 |
| Summers County, WV | 11,729 | $40,711 | 1.7%/yr | 2.2% | 0.548 |
| Raleigh County, WV | 73,194 | $51,658 | 2.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.579 |
| Giles County, VA | 16,557 | $67,311 | 4.4%/yr | 2.1% | 0.498 |
| Wyoming County, WV | 20,629 | $48,071 | 3.9%/yr | 5.7% | 0.590 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mercer County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with West Virginia, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mercer County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Mercer County, West Virginia?
Mercer County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $52,590, about 12% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Mercer County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mercer County, West Virginia rose 67%, from $31,448 to $52,590. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +67% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mercer County, West Virginia was $48,003, up 4% from $46,173 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Mercer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mercer County, West Virginia was $40,634. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $52,590.
Is it hard to find a job in Mercer County, West Virginia?
Unemployment in Mercer County, West Virginia is only 2.6%, well below the West Virginia rate of 5.4%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mercer County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Mercer County is 0.535. 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, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mercer County, West Virginia has widened from about 29% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2017, and was narrowest at 27% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,479 since 2009.
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