Cost of Living in Mercer County, Pennsylvania
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 #1,287 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 41%)
Sourced county brief
Mercer County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $762
In Mercer County, median selected monthly owner costs were estimated at $762, which is $248 lower than the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $1,010. Among renter-occupied units, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 28.3%. This is the official B25071 estimate and is 0.6 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 27.7%. Median gross rent for the county is $843 per month, while the state unweighted county mean is $991. The median value of owner-occupied homes is $164,000, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $212,079. Median income for renter households in the county is $34,301. All data points are sourced from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates and represent a statistical snapshot of the period. 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 28.3% 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 $843 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $762. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,720 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 Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Mercer County's $843 median is 14.9% 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
16.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,399
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mercer County
Median home value is $164,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,309 vs. your max of $1,399.
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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