Mercer County, KY

County

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Population

21,516

0.646% 1-year growth

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

Median Age

42.2

Poverty Rate

16%

Median Household Income

$50,475

6.1% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$144,200

3.07% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

9,480

1.83% 1-year decline

About

In 2018, Mercer County, KY had a population of 21.5k people with a median age of 42.2 and a median household income of $50,475. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Mercer County, KY grew from 21,378 to 21,516, a 0.646% increase and its median household income grew from $47,574 to $50,475, a 6.1% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Mercer County, KY are White (Non-Hispanic) (90.9%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.89%), White (Hispanic) (2.11%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.39%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.809%). NaNk% of the people in Mercer County, KY speak a non-English language, and 97.9% are U.S. citizens.

The median property value in Mercer County, KY is $144,200, and the homeownership rate is 71.3%. Most people in Mercer County, KY commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 24.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Mercer County, KY is 2 cars per household.

Mercer County, KY borders Anderson County, KY, Boyle County, KY, Garrard County, KY, Jessamine County, KY, Washington County, KY, and Woodford County, KY.

United States Kentucky

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Kentucky. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Kentucky, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Kentucky (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Kentucky across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Mercer County, KY went to Donald J. Trump with 73.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (22.6%), followed by Other (4.25%). The most partisan county was Leslie County, KY with 89.4% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing the state of Kentucky. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (73.1%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (22.6%)
Democratic Party
Other (4.25%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 73.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (22.6%), followed by Other (4.25%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Kentucky for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Kentucky.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Mercer County, KY

73.1% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Kentucky

Leslie County, KY
89.4% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Jackson County, KY
88.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Martin County, KY
88.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Kentucky was Leslie County, KY with 89.4% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in Kentucky colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Kentucky

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

Mitch McConnell

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 1985

Rand Paul

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing Kentucky.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Kentucky over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from Kentucky

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Kentucky have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Mercer County, KY is home to a population of 21.5k people, from which 97.9% are citizens. As of 2018, 2.69% of Mercer County, KY residents were born outside of the country (579 people).

In 2018, there were 23.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (19.5k people) in Mercer County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 838 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 454 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Mercer County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
19.5k ± 21
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
838 ± 155
White (Hispanic)
454 ± 91

2.95%

Hispanic Population

634 people

2.95% of the people in Mercer County, KY are hispanic (634 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Mercer County, KY as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

2.69%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

579 people

2.72%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

582 people

As of 2018, 2.69% of Mercer County, KY residents (579 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Mercer County, KY was 2.72%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Mercer County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.8

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1.6

In 2018, the median age of all people in Mercer County, KY was 42.2. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 43, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 40. But people in Mercer County, KY are getting getting younger. In 2017, the average age of all Mercer County, KY residents was 43.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
32,622 ± 4,418 people
India
10,932 ± 2,564 people
Cuba
8,780 ± 2,298 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 32,622 Kentucky residents, followed by India with 10,932 and Cuba with 8,780.

Citizenship

97.9%

2018 Citizenship

98.3%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 97.9% of Mercer County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Mercer County, KY was 98.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Mercer County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
563 ± 106
Gulf War (2001-)
248 ± 117
Gulf War (1990s)
150 ± 69

Mercer County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.27 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Mercer County, KY is $50,475. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Mercer County, KY was Census Tract 9601 with a value of $62,073, followed by Census Tract 9605 and Census Tract 9603, with respective values of $59,375 and $56,422.

Males in Kentucky have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $41,451. The income inequality in Kentucky (measured using the Gini index) is 0.457, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Mercer County, KY employs 9.48k people. The largest industries in Mercer County, KY are Manufacturing (1,986 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,447 people), and Retail Trade (951 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($86,964), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($68,988), and Transportation & Warehousing ($60,938).

Wages

Median Household Income

$50,475

2018 value

± $3,367

6.1%

1 Year Growth

± 8.37%

Households in Mercer County, KY have a median annual income of $50,475, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $47,574 in 2017, which represents a 6.1% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Mercer County, KY compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

$56,557

Average Male Salary in Kentucky

± $1,518

$41,451

Average Female Salary in Kentucky

± $1,092

In 2017, full-time male employees in Kentucky made 1.36 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Kentucky by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Kentucky

Asian
$55,164 ± $10,370
White
$43,856 ± $923
American Indian
$34,557 ± $13,648

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Kentucky workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.26 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Kentucky.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Kentucky by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Mercer County, KY is from Kentucky.

0.457

2017 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.455

2016 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2017, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.457 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.329% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Kentucky in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Kentucky across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9601
Census Tract 9605
Census Tract 9603

In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Mercer County, KY was Census Tract 9601 with a value of $62,073, followed by Census Tract 9605 and Census Tract 9603, with respective values of $59,375 and $56,422.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Mercer County, KY colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 45 - 54

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

16% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Mercer County, KY (3.41k out of 21.3k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 45 - 54, followed by Females 75+ and then Females 25 - 34.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
3,308 ± 400
Hispanic
267 ± 126
Two Or More
54 ± 105

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Mercer County, KY is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

9.48k

2018 Value

± 638

-1.83%

1 Year decline

± 9.41%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Mercer County, KY declined at a rate of -1.83%, from 9.66k employees to 9.48k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Mercer County, KY, are Production Occupations (1,305 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,233 people), and Management Occupations (743 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Mercer County, KY.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Mercer County, KY, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (1,305 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,233 people), and Management Occupations (743 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Mercer County, KY has an unusually high number of residents working as Production Occupations (2.4 times higher than expected), Health Technologists & Technicians (1.84 times), and Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (1.74 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Mercer County, KY, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($119,844), Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($85,156), and Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($60,703).

Industries

Employment by Industries

9.48k

2018 Value

± 638

-1.83%

1 Year decline

± 9.41%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Mercer County, KY declined at a rate of -1.83%, from 9.66k employees to 9.48k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Mercer County, KY, are Manufacturing (1,986 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,447 people), and Retail Trade (951 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Mercer County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Mercer County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Mercer County, KY, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (1,986 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,447 people), and Retail Trade (951 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Mercer County, KY has an unusually high number of Utilities (2.9 times higher than expected), Manufacturing (2.08 times), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (1.81 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Mercer County, KY, by median earnings, are Utilities ($86,964), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($68,988), and Transportation & Warehousing ($60,938).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Kentucky to other states, or from other states to Kentucky.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2015, the top outbound Kentucky product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $71.4B, followed by Base metals ($17.1B) and Gasoline ($17.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Kentucky products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Kentucky.

$282B

2015 Value in Kentucky

$398B

Projected 2045 Value in Kentucky

41.4% growth

In 2015, total outbound Kentucky trade was $282B. This is expected to increase 41.4% to $398B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Kentucky trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Kentucky to other states, or from other states to Kentucky.

Most Common Trade Partners

Ohio
$22.9B
Indiana
$19.1B
Tennessee
$16.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Kentucky domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Ohio with $22.9B, followed by Indiana with $19.1B and Tennessee and $16.7B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Kentucky shares with each state (excluding itself).

Housing & Living

The median property value in Mercer County, KY was $144,200 in 2018, which is 0.628 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $139,900 to $144,200, a 3.07% increase. The homeownership rate in Mercer County, KY is 71.3%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Mercer County, KY have an average commute time of 24.6 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Mercer County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$144,200

2018 Median

± $8,084

$139,900

2017 Median

± $7,203

In 2018, the median property value in Mercer County, KY grew to to $144,200 from the previous year's value of $139,900.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Mercer County, KY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Mercer County, KY the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$50,475

Median Household Income

± $3,367

8.57k

Number of Households

± 577

In 2018, the median household income of the 8.57k households in Mercer County, KY grew to $50,475 from the previous year's value of $47,574.

The following chart displays the households in Mercer County, KY distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

$800 - $1,499

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Mercer County, KY distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Mercer County, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

Rent vs Own

71.3%

2018 Homeownership

71.8%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 71.3% of the housing units in Mercer County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 71.8%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Mercer County, KY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

24.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Mercer County, KY have a shorter commute time (24.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 1.67% of the workforce in Mercer County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Mercer County, KY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
83.7%
Carpooled
10.6%
Worked At Home
4.01%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Mercer County, KY was Drove Alone (83.7%), followed by those who Carpooled (10.6%) and those who Worked At Home (4.01%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Mercer County, KY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Mercer County, KY have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

Health

93.4% of the population of Mercer County, KY has health coverage, with 45.8% on employee plans, 17.8% on Medicaid, 13.9% on Medicare, 14.4% on non-group plans, and 1.55% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Kentucky was $8,004 in 2014. This is a 6.11% increase from the previous year ($7,543).

Primary care physicians in Mercer County, KY see 2676 patients per year on average, which represents a 24.7% decrease from the previous year (3553 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 4295 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 934 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Harlan County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (18%). Additionally, Leslie County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (43.3%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,676 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Mercer County, KY

Primary care physicians in Mercer County, KY see an average of 2,676 patients per year. This represents a 24.7% decrease from the previous year (3,553 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Mercer County, KY in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

$8,004

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Kentucky

$4,551

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$7,016

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,368

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Kentucky (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 6.11%, from $7,543 to $8,004.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

6.56%

Uninsured

45.8%

Employer Coverage

17.8%

Medicaid

13.9%

Medicare

14.4%

Non-Group

1.55%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Mercer County, KY declined by 14.1% from 7.64% to 6.56%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Mercer County, KY changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.