CensusEasy
COUNTY

Mercer County

West Virginia · 57,503 residents (2025 est.) · 418.962 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Bluefield micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Mercer County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,210. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $121,700.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
58,563
−7%since 2000
from 62,980 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
140 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 147 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.5
+8%since 2000
from 40.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:57,503 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
58K60K62K64K66K1990201020202024Mercer County
202459K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(3,027)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(3,602)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(3,657)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(3,297)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.8%(3,413)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.6%(6,774)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.2%(6,582)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(7,337)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.8%(7,481)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.2%(7,752)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.8%(3,971)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.9%(1,670)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,210
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,628 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,362
+95%since 2000
from $15,564 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.6%
+21.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
−2%since 2010
from 0.462 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing1.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$121,700
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$810
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
27.1% rent
Vacancy rate
17.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+1%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Mercer County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(58,073)
Black5.8%(3,657)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(285)
Asian0.5%(288)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.6%(51,880)
Black4.1%(2,372)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(789)
Asian0.2%(127)
Other5.8%(3,395)
Diversity Score
26
+37%since 2009
from 19 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
−39%since 2020
from 45 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
Mexican0.6%(350)
Puerto Rican0.2%(92)
Spaniard0.1%(81)
Dominican0.1%(32)
Cuban0%(11)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(49)
Burmese0%(21)
Japanese0%(13)
Ancestry
English14.2%(8,304)
Irish12.2%(7,168)
American10.4%(6,080)
German10.2%(5,950)
Italian2.5%(1,485)
Scottish1.5%(870)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(832)
Hungarian0.7%(431)
Dutch0.7%(395)
Welsh0.6%(342)
French0.6%(326)
Norwegian0.5%(313)
+ 25 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.4%(239)
Slovak0.3%(203)
Swedish0.3%(194)
Russian0.3%(160)
British0.2%(125)
Austrian0.2%(123)
Arab0.2%(108)
Lebanese0.2%(97)
Belgian0.1%(46)
Croatian0%(26)
Danish0%(26)
Romanian0%(21)
Turkish0%(19)
Syrian0%(13)
Moroccan0%(11)
Czech0%(5)
Greek0%(5)
Haitian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.9%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.6%
+16.5 ptssince 2000
from 72.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.0 min
+47%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.6%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2011
from 48.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.3%
−25.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2012
from 24.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−79.6 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.5%
+22.4 ptssince 2017
from 64.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.3%(7,184)
Married51.2%(11,752)
Widowed4.7%(1,077)
Divorced12.9%(2,954)
Women 15+
Never married21.6%(5,471)
Married46.8%(11,852)
Widowed15.5%(3,928)
Divorced16%(4,059)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Mercer County

Russell County
Pop 58,898
Jackson County
Pop 54,281
Jefferson County
Pop 62,987
Laurens County
Pop 51,041
Places similar to Mercer County
Head to head

Compare Mercer County to nearby counties

MERCER COUNTY VS
Bland County
Income$61,216+15%
Home value$152,100+25%
Population6,151−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Summers County
Income$40,699−24%
Home value$140,100+15%
Population11,532−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Giles County
Income$65,691+23%
Home value$151,100+24%
Population16,564−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERCER COUNTY VS
Raleigh County
Income$52,150−2%
Home value$150,900+24%
Population71,775+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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.

Keep going

Explore from here

16 census tracts
Census Tract 15Census Tract 11Census Tract 17Census Tract 18Census Tract 10Census Tract 23Census Tract 13Census Tract 22Census Tract 12Census Tract 9Census Tract 21Census Tract 14Census Tract 24Census Tract 20Census Tract 19Census Tract 16
17 ZIP codes
ZIP 24701ZIP 24740ZIP 24739ZIP 24747ZIP 24712ZIP 25971ZIP 24737ZIP 25820ZIP 25841ZIP 24715ZIP 24714ZIP 24731ZIP 24733ZIP 24724ZIP 25922ZIP 24729ZIP 24738
Up the hierarchy
All counties in West Virginia
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →