Cost of Living in Mercer County, Missouri
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 #226 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 7%)
Sourced county brief
Mercer County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $590 Monthly
Median gross rent in Mercer County is $590 per month, which is $193 below the Missouri unweighted county mean of $783. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 22.6%, which is 3.3 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 25.9%. In the ownership market, the median home value is $104,900 and median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $641. These figures are lower than the state unweighted county means of $175,712 for home value and $803 for monthly owner costs. For renter-occupied units, the median household income was estimated at $29,583. This report uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates including tables B25064, B25071, B25077, B25088, and B25119. Data version acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1 were last reviewed at 2026-07-10. 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 22.6% 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 $590 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $641. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $23,600 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 Missouri unweighted mean of county median rents is $783 per month. Mercer County's $590 median is 24.6% below 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
11.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,463
per month
Owner Cost Burden
12.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mercer County
Median home value is $104,900. Estimated monthly cost: $837 vs. your max of $1,463.
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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