1st Advantage Mortgage22% of Mercer County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $53,210 (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Mercer County, and confirm each one's West Virginia license.
On this page
- Population and place: Mercer County
- What Mercer County households earn
- Mercer County industries and commutes
- What stands out in Mercer County
- Homes and rents, Mercer County
- Mercer County and the counties next door
- Mercer County communities by population
- Before borrowing in Mercer County
- Mercer County households compared
- What a median Mercer County budget can carry
- A Mercer County borrower's checklist
- West Virginia rules that apply in Mercer County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Mercer County
Mercer County is home to about 58,563 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. It covers 419 square miles of land, or about 140 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mercer County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (5 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Bluefield, with about 9,387 residents, or 16% of the county.
What Mercer County households earn
At $53,210, the typical Mercer County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 33rd of 55.
| Income band | Share in Mercer County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.3% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -1.8 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.5% of Mercer County residents in poverty, against 16.7% across West Virginia. Gini index for Mercer County: 0.451. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Mercer County median.
Mercer County industries and commutes
The biggest employer of Mercer County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward retail trade (15% against 12%). 2.7% of Mercer County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 15%; under 15 minutes: 32%.
| Top industries | Mercer County share | +/- vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +0.6 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.
What stands out in Mercer County
Out of every West Virginia county, Mercer County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Mercer County sits near the bottom of West Virginia at 2.7%, 3rd lowest of 55. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Few West Virginia counties match Mercer County on homeownership: 73% here, 75% for the state, ranking 6th lowest of 55. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
- Few West Virginia counties match Mercer County on the uninsured rate: 4.9% here, 6.0% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 55. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
Homes and rents, Mercer County
Mercer County rent at the median: $810 a month, utilities in ($872 in West Virginia). Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,700, about 2.3 times the median household income. In Mercer County, 73% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Nationally, Mercer County's $810 rent is 8% below the middle county.
| Housing | Mercer County | West Virginia statewide | Mercer County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $810/mo | $872/mo | 7% lower |
| Median home value | $121,700 | $162,600 | 25% lower |
| Owners | 73% | 75% | -2.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | +2.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | -2.9 pts |
| Mobile homes | 20.2% | 13.6% | +6.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 17% | 15% | +2.0 pts |
With 73% of Mercer County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Mercer County and the counties next door
Bland County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, McDowell County, is 30 miles off. Richest neighbor: Giles County, $65,691. Poorest: McDowell County, $31,559. Mercer County: $53,210. Some neighbors are in Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mercer County resident follows West Virginia rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | - | $53,210 | $810/mo | 73% |
| Bland County, VA | 19 mi | $61,216 | $644/mo | 86% |
| Summers County, WV | 22 mi | $40,699 | $915/mo | 81% |
| Giles County, VA | 23 mi | $65,691 | $789/mo | 79% |
| Raleigh County, WV | 26 mi | $52,150 | $902/mo | 75% |
| Wyoming County, WV | 28 mi | $48,440 | $650/mo | 82% |
| McDowell County, WV | 30 mi | $31,559 | $643/mo | 77% |
Mercer County communities by population
Places, by size: the top 10 of 10. Roughly 64% of Mercer County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Brush Fork has the highest median household income on the list ($70,098) and Bluewell the lowest ($35,168), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $728 in Bluewell to $975 in Athens. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield | city | 9,387 | $49,375 | $804 | 11 mi |
| Princeton | city | 5,736 | $43,900 | $747 | 2 mi |
| Bluewell | CDP | 1,992 | $35,168 | $728 | 10 mi |
| Athens | town | 1,494 | $56,667 | $975 | 5 mi |
| Brush Fork | CDP | 1,096 | $70,098 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Lashmeet | CDP | 655 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Montcalm | CDP | 484 | $63,024 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Oakvale | town | 254 | n/a | $725 | 9 mi |
| Bramwell | town | 135 | $53,929 | $708 | 12 mi |
| Matoaka | CDP | 30 | $16,786 | n/a | 7 mi |
Before borrowing in Mercer County
Based on the Mercer County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Mercer County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. Uninsured, Mercer County: 4.9%; West Virginia: 6.0%.
| Measure | Mercer County | Gap to West Virginia | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | +0.8 yrs | +2.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.9% | -1.3 pts | +0.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | +0.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | -1.1 pts | -2.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | -1.6 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Work from home | 6.6% | -2.5 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | -0.2 pts | +3.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | -2.8 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Commute length | Mercer County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
What a median Mercer County budget can carry
Mercer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $53,210 a year is $4,434 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $810, takes 18% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,097 left for all other debt payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Mercer County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
A Mercer County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Mercer County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mercer County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
West Virginia rules that apply in Mercer County
Mercer County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The West Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
No city in Mercer County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Mercer County earn?
The median is $53,210; 22% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Mercer County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $810 median rent and $4,434 median monthly income, rent alone uses 18%; add other debts before a new payment.
Can Mercer County owners borrow against a $121,700 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near Bluefield. Which guide is mine?
This one. Bluefield and the rest of Mercer County have no separate city guide.
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.