COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Mercer County

Illinois · 17,290 residents · 561 sq mi

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With 17,290 people, Mercer County is a county in Illinois. The typical home is worth $34,500. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. About 11% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The median age is 36.1, about 3 years above the US median. Households here earn about 18% less than in Illinois as a whole.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 36.1

US median: 33.0

Less educated

11% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 36%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

17,290

+2%vs 2000

vs 16,957 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

36.1

−9%vs 2000

vs 39.5 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

561 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202415K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56.6%(1,137)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 98.2%(1,422)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 147.2%(1,250)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 197.3%(1,263)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 245%(861)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3414.1%(2,443)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4413.5%(2,331)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5412.6%(2,176)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 649.3%(1,614)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 748.8%(1,517)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 845.6%(960)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1.8%(316)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$26,606

−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $40,893 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$12,058

−35%vs 2000

vs $18,645 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

10.1%

+2.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.8% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$34,500

−36%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $70,900 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$304

+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $392 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

74.7%

−5.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 79.7% in 2000

25.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic97.6%(16,551)

Black0.3%(48)

Hispanic / Latino1.3%(216)

Asian0.2%(29)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.4%(17,178)

Black0.2%(29)

Hispanic / Latino0.9%(160)

Asian0.1%(22)

Other0.4%(61)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican3%(464)

Puerto Rican0.2%(27)

Cuban0%(7)

Spaniard0%(2)

Asian origin

Korean0.2%(27)

Filipino0.1%(14)

Laotian0%(7)

Asian Indian0%(6)

Pacific Islander origin

Native Hawaiian0.1%(9)

Ancestry

German20.8%(3,216)

Irish12.2%(1,889)

English11.5%(1,781)

Swedish7.8%(1,203)

American5.8%(891)

Belgian1.9%(295)

French1.9%(290)

Italian1.5%(233)

Dutch1.3%(202)

Norwegian1.1%(172)

Scotch-Irish1.1%(163)

Scottish1%(155)

+ 19 more ancestry groups with data

Polish0.8%(130)

Czech0.7%(103)

Welsh0.6%(90)

Austrian0.5%(81)

Danish0.5%(72)

Swiss0.3%(42)

French Canadian0.2%(38)

Russian0.2%(24)

Slovak0.1%(22)

Ukrainian0.1%(15)

Croatian0.1%(14)

Lithuanian0.1%(12)

Hungarian0.1%(11)

Greek0.1%(10)

Portuguese0%(7)

Canadian0%(6)

Arab0%(4)

British0%(4)

Finnish0%(1)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Swedish population · Largest American population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

11.3%

−1.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 12.6% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

77.4%

−7.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 84.9% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

3.1%

−0.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 3.3% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

28.3 min

+44%vs 2000

vs 19.6 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married25.7%(1,676)

Married63.2%(4,123)

Widowed3.8%(249)

Divorced7.2%(472)

Women 15+

Never married19.3%(1,235)

Married62.6%(4,001)

Widowed9.1%(582)

Divorced8.9%(570)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

4.6%

−2.7 ptssince 2013

from 7.3% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

63.2%

−0.5 ptssince 2020

from 63.7% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

14.7%

−1.2 ptssince 2020

from 15.9% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

23.1%

+0.6 ptssince 2020

from 22.5% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

15.6%

−0.3 ptssince 2020

from 15.9% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

2.0%

−0.8 ptssince 2020

from 2.8% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

76.0%

−1.1 ptssince 2020

from 77.1% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

36.1%

+0.3 ptssince 2020

from 35.8% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)31.2%(321)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)19.7%(203)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era43.1%(443)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War3.8%(39)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II1.2%(12)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,029 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

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