Mercer County, West Virginia Demographics 2026
Mercer County, West Virginia has a population of 58,563, the 9th most populous county in West Virginia. The median household income is $53,210 and the median home value is $121,700. The poverty rate is 16.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Mercer County Quick Facts
How Mercer County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,062 | 58,563 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $47,799 | $53,210 | +11.3% |
| Median home value | $118,600 | $121,700 | +2.6% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 19 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Mercer County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield | 9,387 | $49,375 | 18.5% | $105,400 |
| Princeton | 5,736 | $43,900 | 16.9% | $120,300 |
| Bluewell | 1,992 | $35,168 | 18.3% | $125,500 |
| Athens | 1,494 | $56,667 | 19.4% | $168,100 |
| Brush Fork | 1,096 | $70,098 | 9.2% | $90,000 |
| Lashmeet | 655 | N/A | 13.0% | $187,500 |
| Montcalm | 484 | $63,024 | 16.5% | N/A |
| Oakvale | 254 | N/A | 10.3% | N/A |
| Bramwell | 135 | $53,929 | 23.7% | $93,000 |
| Matoaka | 30 | $16,786 | 93.3% | N/A |
Explore West Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Mercer County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 58,563. It is the 9th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Mercer County is 43.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Mercer County is $53,210. This is 11% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.5%. This is 1% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $121,700. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Mercer County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 74.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Mercer County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.
Education
22.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Mercer County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against West Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Mercer County, West Virginia?
Mercer County has a population of 58,563, making it the 9th most populous county in West Virginia.
What is the median income in Mercer County?
The median household income in Mercer County is $53,210 with a poverty rate of 16.5%.
How many cities are in Mercer County, West Virginia?
Mercer County contains 10 Census-designated places.