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COUNTY

Mercer County

New Jersey · 399,289 residents (2025 est.) · 224 sq mi
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Part of the Trenton metro area
The short version

With 385,864 people, Mercer County is a county in New Jersey. Few US counties rank higher on income. The foreign-born share is 27%. About 45% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Density works out to 1,719 people per square mile. Median household income runs $100,645, well clear of the $82,259 US median.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $100,645, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Mercer County

What changed most since 1990

  • White share72.7% → 42.7% (−29.9 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$328,089 → $377,700 (+15%)US over the same years: +67%
  • Hispanic share5.7% → 23.1% (+17.3 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts

Among the 21 counties in New Jersey

  • 12th in household income$100,645
  • 8th in share with a bachelor's degree45.4%
  • 13th in home value$377,700
  • 4th in diversity score89.4
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
385,864
+10%since 2000
from 350,761 in 2000
399,289 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,719 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 1,563 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+10%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
224 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
320K338K357K375K393K19902000201020202024Mercer County
2024386K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(21,584)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(22,566)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(25,592)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(27,559)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247%(26,952)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.4%(47,759)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.1%(50,384)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.4%(51,806)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413%(50,105)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.3%(35,990)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.6%(17,645)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(7,922)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$100,645
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,613 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$53,765
+93%since 2000
from $27,914 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
61.2%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.493
+3%since 2010
from 0.476 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information8.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration6.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$377,700
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $143,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,623
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $727 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.2%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
37.8% rent
Vacancy rate
4.6%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.56 people
−7%since 2009
from 2.75 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
25.3%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 34.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
−14%since 2009
from 4.3 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
30
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64.2%(225,284)
Black19.4%(67,922)
Hispanic / Latino9.7%(33,898)
Asian4.9%(17,250)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic42.7%(164,891)
Black17.9%(69,099)
Hispanic / Latino23.1%(89,099)
Asian12.3%(47,553)
Other3.9%(15,222)
Diversity Score
89
+19%since 2009
from 75 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
44
−5%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Central American8.1%(31,180)
Guatemalan6%(23,328)
Puerto Rican5%(19,121)
South American4%(15,452)
Dominican2.8%(10,739)
Ecuadorian2.1%(8,136)
Mexican1.3%(5,106)
Honduran0.8%(3,153)
Colombian0.7%(2,564)
Peruvian0.6%(2,388)
Costa Rican0.5%(1,874)
Salvadoran0.4%(1,577)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Cuban0.4%(1,364)
Venezuelan0.3%(1,208)
Spaniard0.2%(910)
Panamanian0.2%(717)
Argentine0.1%(341)
Nicaraguan0.1%(329)
Chilean0.1%(311)
Bolivian0%(177)
Uruguayan0%(169)
Asian origin
Asian Indian7.2%(27,691)
Chinese2.4%(9,172)
Filipino0.7%(2,849)
Korean0.7%(2,561)
Pakistani0.3%(1,193)
Japanese0.3%(981)
Taiwanese0.2%(769)
Burmese0.1%(431)
Vietnamese0.1%(405)
Bangladeshi0.1%(234)
Nepalese0%(149)
Thai0%(77)
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(84)
Chamorro0%(37)
Ancestry
Italian10.2%(39,398)
Irish9.8%(37,770)
German8.3%(32,190)
English5.7%(21,928)
Polish4.9%(18,883)
American2.4%(9,301)
West Indian2.2%(8,610)
Russian1.3%(4,836)
Hungarian1.1%(4,331)
Haitian1%(3,918)
French1%(3,847)
+ 49 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish1%(3,836)
Jamaican0.8%(3,137)
Arab0.7%(2,815)
Dutch0.7%(2,801)
Ukrainian0.5%(2,119)
Slovak0.5%(1,863)
Swedish0.4%(1,675)
Greek0.4%(1,597)
Nigerian0.4%(1,502)
Lithuanian0.4%(1,398)
Norwegian0.3%(1,338)
British0.3%(1,266)
Egyptian0.3%(1,189)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(1,134)
Turkish0.3%(1,074)
Romanian0.3%(1,066)
Czech0.3%(1,052)
Austrian0.3%(1,041)
Welsh0.3%(1,029)
Danish0.3%(1,007)
Ghanaian0.2%(840)
Portuguese0.2%(787)
Canadian0.2%(726)
Brazilian0.2%(682)
Swiss0.1%(485)
Moroccan0.1%(415)
Lebanese0.1%(388)
Iranian0.1%(388)
Croatian0.1%(360)
Guyanese0.1%(345)
Israeli0.1%(339)
Palestinian0.1%(295)
Bulgarian0.1%(286)
Armenian0.1%(259)
Slovene0.1%(241)
Kenyan0.1%(206)
Ethiopian0.1%(198)
Finnish0%(162)
Belgian0%(148)
Latvian0%(138)
Barbadian0%(101)
Syrian0%(95)
Serbian0%(94)
Jordanian0%(54)
Somali0%(8)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
45.4%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 34.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 81.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.2%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.1 min
+44%since 2000
from 18.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
60.2%
−11.6 ptssince 2009
from 71.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
4.6%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
19.5%
+15.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 66.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 73.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
15.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
49.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
27.0%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.9%
−3.7 ptssince 2013
from 11.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.4%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 80.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 92.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
88.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 86.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
64.3%
−6.3 ptssince 2016
from 70.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
19.1%
+5.1 ptssince 2016
from 13.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married39.5%(61,176)
Married51.1%(79,199)
Widowed2.1%(3,186)
Divorced7.3%(11,276)
Women 15+
Never married36%(58,078)
Married46.1%(74,291)
Widowed8.1%(13,143)
Divorced9.8%(15,773)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
7.9%
−3.7 ptssince 2013
from 11.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
63.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2020
from 66.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 10.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.4%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 16.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 74.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
31.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 31.2% 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)22.2%(2,263)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.2%(2,060)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.2%(3,379)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.4%(650)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.6%(164)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 10,176 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Mercer County, decade by decade

Mercer County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990325,824$98,948$328,08929.5%54.3
2000350,761$103,129$261,59034.0%67.2
2010366,513$102,451$444,95038.2%79.2
2020387,340$100,970$351,61243.5%89.1
2024385,864$100,645$377,70045.4%89.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

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Pop 381,605
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Places similar to Mercer County
Head to head

Compare Mercer County to nearby counties

MERCER COUNTY VS
Middlesex County
Income$111,549+11%
Home value$462,900+23%
Population883,335+121%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Somerset County
Income$140,374+39%
Home value$552,100+46%
Population356,486−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Bucks County
Income$114,764+14%
Home value$445,700+18%
Population647,828+62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Hunterdon County
Income$141,715+41%
Home value$517,200+37%
Population131,781−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mercer County, New Jersey?

Mercer County, New Jersey has about 385,864 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Mercer County, New Jersey?

The typical household in Mercer County, New Jersey earns about $100,645 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mercer County, New Jersey expensive?

In Mercer County, New Jersey, the median home is worth about $377,700, and the typical rent is about $1,623 a month.

How educated are people in Mercer County, New Jersey?

About 45.4% of adults age 25 and over in Mercer County, New Jersey hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mercer County, New Jersey?

About 10.3% of people in Mercer County, New Jersey live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mercer County, New Jersey grown since 1990?

Yes, Mercer County, New Jersey has grown since 1990. The population has added about 60,040 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →