With 58,563 people, Mercer County is a county in West Virginia. The typical home is worth $121,700, having more than doubled since 2000. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 23% of adults. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. The median age is 43.5, about 5 years above the US median. Renters pay $810 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $53,210, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Mercer County
What changed most since 1990
White share92.9% → 88.6%(−4.3 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$106,803 → $121,700(+14%)US over the same years: +67%
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)24.4%(834)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22%(751)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.2%(1,340)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.6%(192)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.5%(84)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,416 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
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
64,980
$46,477
$106,803
11.6%
16.8
2000
62,980
$48,507
$102,377
13.8%
18.3
2010
62,264
$46,223
$105,735
16.4%
20.8
2020
59,664
$49,349
$122,295
20.1%
28.5
2024
58,563
$53,210
$121,700
22.9%
26.3
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.
How many people live in Mercer County, West Virginia?
Mercer County, West Virginia has about 58,563 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Mercer County, West Virginia?
The typical household in Mercer County, West Virginia earns about $53,210 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Mercer County, West Virginia expensive?
In Mercer County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $121,700, and the typical rent is about $810 a month.
How educated are people in Mercer County, West Virginia?
About 22.9% of adults age 25 and over in Mercer County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Mercer County, West Virginia?
About 16.5% of people in Mercer County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Mercer County, West Virginia grown since 1990?
Yes, Mercer County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,417 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.
