Cost of Living in Mercer County, Kentucky
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Mercer County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mercer County ranks #1,638 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 48%)
Sourced county brief
Mercer County Official GRAPI Estimated at 23.3 Percent
The official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income in Mercer County was estimated at 23.3%. This is 3.9 percentage points lower than the Kentucky unweighted county mean of 27.2%. The median gross rent in the county was $831 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $793. For owner-occupied properties, the median home value was $202,300, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $160,835. Median selected monthly owner costs were $935, compared to the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $753. The median renter-household income was $42,325 during the 2020-2024 ACS period. These figures describe a historical snapshot and are not intended for use in financial forecasting or as relocation advice. All reported values are based on official U.S. Census Bureau B-series tables. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Mercer County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 23.3% of renter household income in Mercer County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $831 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $935. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,240 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kentucky unweighted mean of county median rents is $793 per month. Mercer County's $831 median is 4.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mercer County
Rent Burden
15.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,513
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.3%
of gross income
The median home in Mercer County may be a stretch
Median home value is $202,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,615 vs. your max of $1,513.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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