Mercer County, Illinois
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 93.9%
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 15,229
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 15,292
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 15,701
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 15,696
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -3.0%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -2.6%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 15,699
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 16,434
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent 20.6%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 22.8%
Female persons, percent 49.7%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 96.7%
Black alone, percent(a) 1.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.3%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) Z
Two or More Races, percent 1.4%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 3.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 93.3%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 1,029
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 1.1%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 7,292
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 83.8%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $146,700
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,327
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $562
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $786
Building Permits, 2025 18
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 6,565
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.33
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 93.3%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 2.8%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 92.9%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 90.5%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 93.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 20.9%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 7.9%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 5.4%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 60.7%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 57.0%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 9,771
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 38,508
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 7,866
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 134,401
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $8,653
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 28.1
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $74,182
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $39,391
Persons in poverty, percent 9.1%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 258
Total employment, 2023 2,200
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 92,738
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 -3.6%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 873
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 248
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 28.0
Population per square mile, 2010 29.3
Land area in square miles, 2020 561.24
Land area in square miles, 2010 561.20
FIPS Code 17131