1st Advantage MortgageMercer County households have a median income of $74,182 and median rent of $786 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Mercer County
- Household income in Mercer County
- Jobs and commutes in Mercer County
- Renting and owning in Mercer County
- Mercer County and the counties next door
- Places inside Mercer County
- Debt-to-income at Mercer County's medians
- Reading the Mercer County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Mercer County, in numbers
- Four steps for Mercer County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Mercer County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mercer County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Mercer County's population at 15,495; only 68 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 561 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 28 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (12 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Aledo, with about 3,668 residents, or 24% of the county.
Household income in Mercer County
Mercer County households have a median income of $74,182 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 102 in Illinois.
| Income band | Share in Mercer County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.0% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -6.5 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. 8.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Mercer County
The biggest employer of Mercer County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Mercer County. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. 2.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Mercer County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +5.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | +5.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Renting and owning in Mercer County
Renters in Mercer County pay a median of $786 a month, 38% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 10% spend half or more. Home values center on $146,700, or 2.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 84% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1962.
| Measure | Mercer County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $786/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $146,700 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% | 2.3% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Mercer County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Mercer County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Rock Island County at 20 miles out to Des Moines County at 31. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Mercer County; Louisa County is highest at $77,354 and Henderson County lowest at $62,227. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mercer County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | - | $74,182 | $786/mo | 84% |
| Rock Island County, IL | 20 mi | $67,159 | $889/mo | 70% |
| Warren County, IL | 25 mi | $67,385 | $788/mo | 75% |
| Louisa County, IA | 27 mi | $77,354 | $775/mo | 80% |
| Muscatine County, IA | 27 mi | $69,396 | $971/mo | 74% |
| Henderson County, IL | 29 mi | $62,227 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Des Moines County, IA | 31 mi | $62,928 | $904/mo | 75% |
Places inside Mercer County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Mercer County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 10,307 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Sherrard has the highest median household income on the list ($98,750) and Windsor the lowest ($59,333), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $447 in Windsor to $1,250 in Reynolds. None of the 18 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aledo | city | 3,668 | $72,292 | $806 | 1 mi |
| Viola | village | 899 | $72,500 | $705 | 8 mi |
| Alexis | village | 814 | $66,250 | $850 | 14 mi |
| Windsor | village | 704 | $59,333 | $447 | 15 mi |
| Sherrard | village | 691 | $98,750 | $850 | 15 mi |
| Matherville | village | 657 | $86,500 | $856 | 8 mi |
| New Boston | city | 648 | $60,662 | $484 | 14 mi |
| Reynolds | village | 584 | $76,458 | $1,250 | 9 mi |
| Keithsburg | city | 490 | $44,625 | $607 | 12 mi |
| Joy | village | 387 | $56,250 | $965 | 7 mi |
| Seaton | village | 228 | $60,625 | $1,097 | 8 mi |
| North Henderson | village | 191 | $74,231 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Preemption | CDP | 127 | $86,406 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Cable | CDP | 122 | $104,375 | n/a | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Mercer County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Mercer County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $74,182 a year is $6,182 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $786, takes 13% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,687 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Mercer County data as a borrower
What the Mercer County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Mercer County budgets.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Who lives in Mercer County, in numbers
21% of Mercer County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.6%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Measure | Mercer County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Mercer County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Four steps for Mercer County borrowers
A short checklist for Mercer County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Mercer County residents
Consumer lenders serving Mercer County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mercer County household make?
About $74,182 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 11% below the Illinois median.
What do renters pay in Mercer County?
$786 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
Does this page cover Aledo?
Yes, along with the other 17 Census places in Mercer County, such as Viola, Alexis, Windsor.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Mercer County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Mercer County check a lender's license?
With the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.