United States › Kentucky › Mercer County COUNTY · 2010 ACS
Mercer County Kentucky · 21,331 residents · 249 sq mi
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The short version
With 21,331 people, Mercer County is a county in Kentucky. The median age is 41.7, about 5 years above the US median. The foreign-born share is 1%. About 17% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $129,400, having risen by half since 2000. 74% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 41.7
US median: 37.2
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 20K 21K 22K 23K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Mercer County Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $47,955
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,555 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $17,972 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.4%
Public administration 3.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 1.5%
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$129,400
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$542
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $853
from 74.6% in 2000
26.3% rent
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
2.51 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 2.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 93.4%(19,448)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(265)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 92%(19,614)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(490)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 75.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 30.4%(2,876)
Women 15+
Never married 22.3%(2,087)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 66.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 42.7% 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) 20.1%(263)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.3%(293)
Share of the 1,311 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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Drill deeper
Places similar to Mercer County Head to head
Compare Mercer County to nearby counties MERCER COUNTY VS
Boyle County
Income $61,159 +28%
Home value $209,900 +62%
Population 31,632 +33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Anderson County
Income $74,488 +55%
Home value $225,100 +74%
Population 25,225 +6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income $61,616 +28%
Home value $179,200 +38%
Population 12,368 −48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Jessamine County
Income $74,576 +56%
Home value $268,100 +107%
Population 57,147 +141%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Mercer County, Kentucky? Mercer County, Kentucky has about 21,331 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Mercer County, Kentucky? The typical household in Mercer County, Kentucky earns about $47,955 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Mercer County, Kentucky expensive? In Mercer County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $129,400, and the typical rent is about $542 a month.
How educated are people in Mercer County, Kentucky? About 17.0% of adults age 25 and over in Mercer County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Mercer County, Kentucky? About 12.4% of people in Mercer County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Mercer County, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Mercer County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,183 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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