State rank#12 of 21
Smallest county385,864 residentsBergen County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 34021
Mercer County, New Jersey
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population385,864
Household income$100,645
Unemployment4.4%
Life expectancy78.4 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Mercer County has 385,864 residents and ranks #12 by population among New Jersey county equivalents. Median household income is $100,645. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.4%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is below the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within New Jersey
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Mercer County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Mercer County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $377,700 median home value and $1,623/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $100,645, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Mercer County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, primary care access, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 45.4% and life expectancy is 78.4 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 244 residents, rank #2 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,106 residents, rank #7 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 45.4%, rank #8 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 8.7%, rank #16 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $100,645, rank #12 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,623/mo, rank #11 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within New Jersey
Rank and range use only counties in New Jersey with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$100,645
$100,645; below the state county median of $100,869.
State rank #12 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$377,700
$377,700; below the state county median of $434,600.
State rank #9 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,623/mo
$1,623/mo; at the state county median of $1,623/mo.
State rank #11 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.4%
4.4%; at the state county median of 4.4%.
State rank #10 of 21 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
45.4%
45.4%; above the state county median of 39.1%.
State rank #8 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
78.4 years
78.4 years; at the state county median of 78.4 years.
State rank #11 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
14.8%
14.8%; at the state county median of 14.8%.
State rank #11 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
8.7%
8.7%; above the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #16 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,106 residents
1 per 1,106 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,396 residents.
State rank #7 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 244 residents
1 per 244 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 393 residents.
State rank #2 of 21 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Mercer County FAQ
Is Mercer County a good place to live?
Mercer County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, primary care access, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 45.4% and life expectancy is 78.4 years.
What should I know before moving to Mercer County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $377,700 median home value and $1,623/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $100,645, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Mercer County?
Mercer County has 385,864 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Mercer County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 34021; the parent state FIPS is 34.
What is the median household income in Mercer County?
The ACS median household income is $100,645.
How much does housing cost in Mercer County?
Housing benchmarks are $377,700 median home value and $1,623/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $100,645, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Mercer County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.4%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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