1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Mercer County is $1,623 a month against a median household income of $100,645, about 19% of income (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- First look: Mercer County, NJ
- What stands out in Mercer County
- Where Mercer County works
- Paychecks and income spread in Mercer County
- Where Mercer County households live
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mercer County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Mercer County
- Local borrowing considerations for Mercer County
- Room for a loan payment in Mercer County
- New Jersey rules that apply in Mercer County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Mercer County, NJ
With an estimated 385,864 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Mercer County ranks 12th of 21 in New Jersey for population. Density: about 1,718.9 residents per square mile across 224 square miles of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Trenton (90,338 people) heads the county's list of 18 Census places, 5 incorporated and 13 census-designated.
What stands out in Mercer County
Where Mercer County lands at the extremes of New Jersey's county rankings:
- Few New Jersey counties match Mercer County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 16% here, 23% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 21. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- Mercer County ranks 4th highest of 21 New Jersey counties for households without a vehicle: 11.2%, against 11.1% statewide. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- Mercer County ranks 5th highest of 21 New Jersey counties for the share of workers who work from home: 19.5%, against 16.8% statewide. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
- Mercer County ranks 5th lowest of 21 New Jersey counties for homeownership: 62%, against 64% statewide. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
Where Mercer County works
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Mercer County residents work in education and health care and 14% in professional and administrative services. Mercer County over-indexes on education and health care: 26% versus 24% in New Jersey. The survey's unemployment rate for Mercer County averages 6.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 25% of Mercer County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 16% need 45 or more. 16,114 Mercer County households, 11.2%, have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Mercer County | Difference from New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
Self-employed in Mercer County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Paychecks and income spread in Mercer County
The median household income in Mercer County is $100,645; statewide it is $103,556, so Mercer County runs 3% below New Jersey as a whole. In the state ranking that is 12th of 21.
| Household income | Mercer County | vs New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.9% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.9% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 21.3% | -0.4 pts |
Six-figure households (50%) outnumber those under $35,000 (18%) in Mercer County. Census counts 10.3% of Mercer County residents in poverty, against 9.7% across New Jersey. For a borrower in Mercer County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Where Mercer County households live
$1,623 a month is the median gross rent in Mercer County, 6% below the state. About 5 in 10 Mercer County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $377,700, or 3.8 years of median income. 62% of Mercer County households own their home and 38% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Housing | Mercer County | New Jersey statewide | Mercer County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,623/mo | $1,720/mo | 6% lower |
| Median home value | $377,700 | $454,400 | 17% lower |
| Owners | 62% | 64% | -1.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | -1.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 32% | -4.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% | 0.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 5% | 7% | -2.8 pts |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 29 miles). Income ranges from $108,111 in Burlington County to $141,715 in Hunterdon County; all six of these neighbors top Mercer County's median. The list crosses into Pennsylvania, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | - | $100,645 | $1,623/mo | 62% |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 19 mi | $111,549 | $1,871/mo | 64% |
| Somerset County, NJ | 20 mi | $140,374 | $2,033/mo | 74% |
| Bucks County, PA | 22 mi | $114,764 | $1,605/mo | 78% |
| Hunterdon County, NJ | 22 mi | $141,715 | $1,687/mo | 85% |
| Burlington County, NJ | 28 mi | $108,111 | $1,745/mo | 76% |
| Monmouth County, NJ | 29 mi | $124,845 | $1,827/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mercer County
The table lists the 14 largest of 18 Census places in Mercer County, by population. Together all 18 hold about 199,857 people, so roughly 48% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $172,195, Princeton Junction over Trenton. This guide covers each of the 18 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | city | 90,338 | $52,537 | $1,294 | 5 mi |
| Princeton | place | 30,756 | $192,079 | $2,636 | 6 mi |
| Mercerville | CDP | 13,535 | $128,277 | $1,621 | 3 mi |
| Hamilton Square | CDP | 11,622 | $138,162 | $2,139 | 5 mi |
| White Horse | CDP | 10,507 | $105,758 | $2,046 | 6 mi |
| Twin Rivers | CDP | 8,382 | $100,833 | $1,753 | 11 mi |
| Yardville | CDP | 6,301 | $103,274 | $1,661 | 7 mi |
| Hightstown | borough | 5,920 | $108,987 | $1,606 | 9 mi |
| Lawrenceville | CDP | 3,924 | $122,614 | $2,241 | 2 mi |
| Robbinsville Center | CDP | 3,777 | $134,388 | $1,824 | 6 mi |
| The College of New Jersey | CDP | 3,658 | n/a | $1,762 | 4 mi |
| Groveville | CDP | 3,100 | $112,188 | $1,845 | 8 mi |
| Pennington | borough | 2,827 | $192,586 | $1,886 | 5 mi |
| Princeton Junction | CDP | 2,025 | $224,732 | $1,661 | 5 mi |
Age, degrees and coverage in Mercer County
45% of Mercer County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.9%, against 7.5% for New Jersey.
| Mercer County | vs New Jersey | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 19.5% | +2.7 pts | +10.8 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.4% | +1.8 pts | +23.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | +1.3 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 39.5 | -0.6 yrs | -2.0 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | +0.6 pts | -2.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | +0.4 pts | 0.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 11.2% | +0.1 pts | +5.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 0.0 pts | +1.9 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Mercer County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Mercer County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Mercer County borrowers.
- Strong-credit shopping. Many Mercer County households (50%) earn six figures; prequalify with several lenders at once.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Room for a loan payment in Mercer County
Mercer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $8,387 gross per month ($100,645 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,623 uses 19%
- $1,983: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
New Jersey rules that apply in Mercer County
Consumer lenders serving Mercer County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New Jersey that is the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Mercer County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the New Jersey license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
No city in Mercer County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Mercer County?
$100,645 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $103,556 for New Jersey. It ranks 12th of 21 in the state.
How does Mercer County rent compare with New Jersey?
$1,623 locally versus $1,720 for the state, 6% below.
I live near Trenton. Which guide is mine?
This one. Trenton and the rest of Mercer County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Mercer County or elsewhere in New Jersey, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Mercer County residents?
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance licenses consumer lenders in New Jersey; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.