1st Advantage MortgageThe median Mercer County household earns $76,782, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Mercer County at a glance
- The Mercer County job picture
- What Mercer County households earn
- Housing costs in Mercer County
- Regional comparison for Mercer County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mercer County
- Room for a loan payment in Mercer County
- Local borrowing considerations for Mercer County
- More Mercer County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Ohio
- Steps before you apply in Mercer County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mercer County at a glance
Roughly 42,484 residents live in Mercer County, Ohio, 57th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 462 square miles, that is close to 92 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Celina is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 10,903 people (26% of the county total).
The Mercer County job picture
The biggest employer of Mercer County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 29% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Manufacturing stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Mercer County averages 1.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). About 87% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Mercer County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28.6% | +14.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.0% | -2.3 pts |
| Other services | 5.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 5.8% | -0.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Mercer County households earn
Mercer County households have a median income of $76,782 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 17th of 88 in Ohio.
| Band | Mercer County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | -2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.2% | +6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -4.3 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. Census counts 7.3% of Mercer County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.403 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Mercer County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Mercer County
A typical Mercer County rental runs $804 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Ohio. By the Census definition, 37% of Mercer County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $210,600, or 2.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Mercer County | Ohio figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $804/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $210,600 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | 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.
Regional comparison for Mercer County
Distances run center to center, from Jay County at 21 miles out to Darke County at 28. Auglaize County leads the group on income ($78,660), Jay County trails ($54,969), and Mercer County out-earns 5 of the six. The list crosses into Indiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | - | $76,782 | $804/mo | 80% |
| Jay County, IN | 21 mi | $54,969 | $770/mo | 80% |
| Auglaize County, OH | 21 mi | $78,660 | $868/mo | 78% |
| Adams County, IN | 22 mi | $65,289 | $833/mo | 83% |
| Van Wert County, OH | 22 mi | $67,917 | $782/mo | 82% |
| Shelby County, OH | 26 mi | $73,978 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Darke County, OH | 28 mi | $64,486 | $779/mo | 72% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mercer County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Mercer County residents live in one of the 10. St. Henry has the highest median household income on the list ($115,653) and Rockford the lowest ($57,833), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $760 in Celina to $875 in St. Henry. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celina | city | 10,903 | $62,849 | $760 | 4 mi |
| Coldwater | village | 4,191 | $68,009 | $821 | 4 mi |
| St. Henry | village | 2,741 | $115,653 | $875 | 8 mi |
| Fort Recovery | village | 1,729 | $66,563 | $805 | 11 mi |
| Maria Stein | CDP | 1,305 | $94,141 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Rockford | village | 1,008 | $57,833 | $805 | 11 mi |
| Mendon | village | 713 | $66,250 | $825 | 11 mi |
| Chickasaw | village | 394 | $101,250 | $900 | 10 mi |
| Burkettsville | village | 227 | $77,917 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Montezuma | village | 117 | $80,833 | $1,313 | 5 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Mercer County
Mercer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,398 a month: gross income for a household at the Mercer County median
- 13% goes to median rent ($804)
- $1,435: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,075 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Mercer County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Mercer County
Based on the Mercer County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidating cards in Mercer County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Mercer County borrower sees (free reports).
More Mercer County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.6%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Measure | Mercer County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.9% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Ohio
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Mercer County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Mercer County
Quick steps for Mercer County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Mercer County earn?
The median is $76,782; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Mercer County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $804 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Mercer County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Celina, Coldwater, St. Henry, Fort Recovery, Maria Stein.
Are Mercer County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Mercer County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.