Cost of Living in Mercer County, Ohio
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 #1,504 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 48%)
Sourced county brief
Mercer County Rent Burden Metric Below State Unweighted Mean
The official rentBurdenGrapiPct is 24.8%. This metric, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income, is 2.1 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $804 per month, while the state unweighted mean is $904. Median home value is $210,600, which is $14,275 above the state unweighted mean of $196,325. Owner costs for all owner-occupied units were recorded at a median of $911 per month, which is $63 below the state unweighted mean of $974. Renter-household median income was recorded at $38,845. The canonical rentToIncomePct of 24.8% is official B25071 GRAPI. 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 24.8% 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 $804 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $911. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,160 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 Ohio unweighted mean of county median rents is $904 per month. Mercer County's $804 median is 11.1% 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
12.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,792
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mercer County
Median home value is $210,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,681 vs. your max of $1,792.
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
What is the cost of living in Mercer County, Ohio?
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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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