Mercer County, IL

Comprehensive housing, income, and cost of living data for Mercer County, Illinois. Population: 15.7K.

Median Home Price
$154.3K

Based on 9 cities

Median Household Income
$71.7K

Annual household income

Price-to-Income Ratio
2.2x

Highly affordable

Salary Needed to Buy
$45.9K

30-yr mortgage, 6.5% rate, 20% down

Housing & Finance

Annual Property Tax
$2,710

Average annual amount

Effective Tax Rate
1.76%

Property tax / home value

Monthly Housing Costs
Mortgage (P&I)$780
Property Tax$226
Insurance$64.29
Total Monthly$1,070
Historical Home Prices
2015
$132.4K
2016
$134.0K
+1.2%%
2017
$132.4K
-1.2%%
2018
$133.7K
+1.1%%
2019
$143.2K
+7.0%%
2020
$150.6K
+5.2%%
2021
$156.5K
+3.9%%
2022
$158.6K
+1.3%%
2023
$159.2K
+0.4%%
2024
$148.8K
-6.5%%
2025
$158.3K
+6.3%%
Source: County price history data via Zillow ZHVI

Demographics & Economics

Unemployment Rate
5.6%%

Near national average

Population Density
28

People per square mile

Homicide Rate
12.9

Medium (per 100K residents)

Political Lean (2020)
Competitive

R+0

Racial Demographics

White
93.5%
Black
0.6%
Hispanic
3.3%
Asian
0.3%
Two or More Races
2.2%

Source: Census ACS 2023. Hispanic/Latino ethnicity counted separately from race.

Climate & Environment

Average Temperature
51°F

Annual average

Sunny Days
202

Days per year

Annual Rainfall
37.8"

Inches per year

Natural Disaster Risk
Low Risk

Score: 9/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home price in Mercer County, IL?

The median home price in Mercer County, Illinois is $154.3K. The price-to-income ratio is 2.2x, meaning the median home costs 2.2 times the median household income.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Mercer County?

Based on a 30-year mortgage at 6.5% with 20% down and the 28% debt-to-income rule, you need approximately $45.9K per year to buy the median home in Mercer County, IL. Monthly housing costs break down to $780 for mortgage, $226 for property tax, and $64.29 for insurance.

What is the property tax rate in Mercer County?

The effective property tax rate in Mercer County is 1.76%, which comes to approximately $2,710 per year on the median home.

What is the median household income in Mercer County?

The median household income in Mercer County, Illinois is $71.7K per year, based on Census Bureau American Community Survey data. The unemployment rate is 5.6%%.

Is Mercer County a good place to live?

Mercer County, Illinois has a population of 15.7K. Housing affordability is strong with a price-to-income ratio of 2.2x. The climate averages 51 degrees F with 202 sunny days per year. Compare Mercer County with other areas using our cost of living tools to find the best fit for your budget and lifestyle.