Cost of Living in Mercer County, West Virginia
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 #587 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 19%)
Sourced county brief
Mercer County Median Gross Rent Reaches $810 Per Month
In Mercer County, the median gross rent was estimated at $810 per month, which is $33 above the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $777. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.4 percent. This figure is 1.7 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 28.7 percent. The median home value in the county was $121,700, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $148,004. For those in owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $549, while the state unweighted county mean was $598. Renter-household median income in Mercer County was $31,196. All data is derived from the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. 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 30.4% of renter household income in Mercer County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $810 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $549. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,400 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 West Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $777 per month. Mercer County's $810 median is 4.2% 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
18.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,242
per month
Owner Cost Burden
12.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mercer County
Median home value is $121,700. Estimated monthly cost: $972 vs. your max of $1,242.
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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