Mercer County, NJ

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Population

374,733

1% growth

Median Age

38.4


Median Household Income

$79,173

1.96% growth

Poverty Rate

11.3%


Number of Employees

184,030

2.31% growth

Median Property Value

$293,800

3.23% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Mercer County, NJ had a population of 375k people with a median age of 38.4 and a median household income of $79,173. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Mercer County, NJ grew from 371,023 to 374,733, a 1% increase and its median household income grew from $77,650 to $79,173, a 1.96% increase.

The population of Mercer County, NJ is 49.2% White Alone, 19.9% Black or African American Alone, and 17.8% Hispanic or Latino. N/A% of the people in Mercer County, NJ speak a non-English language, and 87% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Mercer County, NJ are Thomas Edison State University (3,113 degrees awarded in 2016), The College of New Jersey (2,228 degrees), and Princeton University (2,213 degrees).

The median property value in Mercer County, NJ is $293,800, and the homeownership rate is 63.5%. Most people in Mercer County, NJ commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 27.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Mercer County, NJ is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: State Capitol Rotunda, Trenton, NJ

Photo by Peter Miller

United StatesNew JerseyTrenton, NJ

Economy

The economy of Mercer County, NJ employs 184k people. The largest industries in Mercer County, NJ are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,709 people), Educational Services (22,099 people), and Retail Trade (17,575 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($92,612), Finance & Insurance ($86,107), and Utilities ($80,733).

Median household income in Mercer County, NJ is $79,173. Males in Mercer County, NJ have an average income that is 1.38 times higher than the average income of females, which is $62,638. The income inequality in Mercer County, NJ (measured using the Gini index) is 0.493, which is higher than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$79,173

2017 value

± $5,088

1.96%

1 Year Growth

± 7.76%

Households in Mercer County, NJ have a median annual income of $79,173, which is more than the median annual income of $60,336 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $77,650 in 2016, which represents a 1.96% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Mercer County, NJ compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

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

$86,424

Average Male Salary

± $1,628

$62,638

Average Female Salary

± $1,187

In 2017, full-time male employees in New Jersey made 1.38 times more than female employees.

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

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

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

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $82,096 ± $2,933

  2. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

    $70,592 ± $66,407

  3. White

    $69,144 ± $1,183

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of New Jersey workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.16 times more than Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

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

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Mercer County, NJ is from New Jersey.

0.493

2017 Wage GINI

0.49

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in New Jersey was 0.493 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.562% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2017 the GINI for New Jersey was higher than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in New Jersey in comparison to the national average.

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

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 43.04

  2. Census Tract 43.06

  3. Census Tract 43.07

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Mercer County, NJ was Census Tract 43.04 with a value of $205,458, followed by Census Tract 43.06 and Census Tract 43.07, with respective values of $200,000 and $192,356.

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

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

11.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Mercer County, NJ (40.5k out of 357k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 13.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 18 - 24.

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.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    19,922 ± 1,105

  2. Black

    14,513 ± 866

  3. Hispanic

    12,868 ± 845

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Mercer County, NJ is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

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.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

184k

2017 Value

± 7,598

2.31%

1 Year growth

± 5.62%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Mercer County, NJ grew at a rate of 2.31%, from 180k employees to 184k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Mercer County, NJ, are Management Occupations (23,599 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (21,573 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (19,576 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Mercer County, NJ.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Mercer County, NJ, by number of employees, are Management Occupations (23,599 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (21,573 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (19,576 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Mercer County, NJ has an unusually high number of residents working as Computer & Mathematical Occupations (1.65 times higher than expected), Community & Social Service Occupations (1.61 times), and Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (1.58 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Mercer County, NJ, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($127,500), Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($100,535), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($99,095).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

184k

2017 Value

± 7,598

2.31%

1 Year growth

± 5.62%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Mercer County, NJ grew at a rate of 2.31%, from 180k employees to 184k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Mercer County, NJ, are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,709 people), Educational Services (22,099 people), and Retail Trade (17,575 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Mercer County, NJ, though some of these residents may live in Mercer County, NJ and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Mercer County, NJ, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,709 people), Educational Services (22,099 people), and Retail Trade (17,575 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Mercer County, NJ has an unusually high number of Finance & Insurance (1.61 times higher than expected), Information (1.42 times), and Educational Services (1.31 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Mercer County, NJ, by median earnings, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($92,612), Finance & Insurance ($86,107), and Utilities ($80,733).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

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

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Pharmaceuticals

    $48.1B

  2. Electronics

    $36.5B

  3. Motorized vehicles

    $35.3B

In 2015, the top outbound New Jersey product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $48.1B, followed by Electronics ($36.5B) and Motorized vehicles ($35.3B).

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

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for New Jersey state.

$467B

2015 Value

$734B

Projected 2045 Value

57.1% growth

In 2015, total outbound New Jersey trade was $467B. This is expected to increase 57.1% to $734B by 2045.

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

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Interstate Trade

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

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. New York

    $70.5B

  2. Pennsylvania

    $48.9B

  3. California

    $16.6B

In 2015, the top outbound New Jersey domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New York with $70.5B, followed by Pennsylvania with $48.9B and California and $16.6B.

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

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Health

91.7% of the population of Mercer County, NJ has health coverage, with 53.2% on employee plans, 15.8% on Medicaid, 10.8% on Medicare, 11% on non-group plans, and 0.804% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Mercer County, NJ was $8,859 in 2014. This is a 4.91% increase from the previous year ($8,444).

Primary care physicians in Mercer County, NJ see 938 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.6% decrease from the previous year (963 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1271 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 343 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Salem County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (12.1%). Additionally, Cumberland County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (34.7%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

938 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Mercer County, NJ see an average of 938 patients per year. This represents a 2.6% decrease from the previous year (963 patients).

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

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. 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.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. 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.

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Health Care Spending

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

$8,859

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$5,081

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,049

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$12,614

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in New Jersey (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4.91%, from $8,444 to $8,859.

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

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Health Care Coverage

8.28%

Uninsured

53.2%

Employer Coverage

15.8%

Medicaid

10.8%

Medicare

11%

Non-Group

0.804%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Mercer County, NJ grew by 17.9% from 7.02% to 8.28%.

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

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Salem County

    12.1% prevalence

  2. Cumberland County

    11.7% prevalence

  3. Atlantic County

    11.7% prevalence

Salem County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in New Jersey, at 12.1%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in New Jersey by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Mercer County, NJ is home to a population of 375k people, from which 87% are citizens. As of 2017, 22.1% of Mercer County, NJ residents were born outside of the country (82.9k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Mercer County, NJ is composed of 184k White Alone residents (49.2%), 74.5k Black or African American Alone residents (19.9%), 66.7k Hispanic or Latino residents (17.8%), 41.4k Asian Alone residents (11.1%), 7.65k Two or More Races residents (2.04%), 215 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.0574%), 0 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0%), and 0 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0%).

The most common foreign languages spoken in Mercer County, NJ are N/A.

Age

Age by Nativity

36

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

43

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1

In 2017, the median age of all people in Mercer County, NJ was 38.4. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 36, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 43. But people in Mercer County, NJ are getting getting younger. In 2016, the average age of all Mercer County, NJ residents was 39.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

22.1%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

82.9k people

21.8%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

81k people

As of 2017, 22.1% of Mercer County, NJ residents (82.9k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Mercer County, NJ was 21.8%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

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Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

  1. India

    283,401 ± 12,863 people

  2. Dominican Republic

    186,056 ± 10,480 people

  3. Mexico

    122,971 ± 8,550 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of New Jersey was India, the natal country of 283,401 New Jersey residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 186,056 and Mexico with 122,971.

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Citizenship

87%

2017 Citizenship

88.5%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 87% of Mercer County, NJ residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.1%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Mercer County, NJ was 88.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    184k ± 449

  2. Black or African American Alone

    74.5k ± 1.35k

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    66.7k ± 4.92k

In 2017, there were 2.47 times more White Alone residents (184k people) in Mercer County, NJ than any other race or ethnicity. There were 74.5k Black or African American Alone and 66.7k Hispanic or Latino residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Mercer County, NJ as a share of the total population.

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Non-English Speakers

Most Common Languages

  1. N/A

    N/A speakers (N/A%)

  2. N/A

    N/A speakers (N/A%)

  3. N/A

    N/A speakers (N/A%)

N/A% of Mercer County, NJ citizens are speakers of a non-English language, which is approximately the same as the national average of 21.8%. In N/A, the most common non-English language spoken in Mercer County, NJ was N/A. N/A% of the overall population of Mercer County, NJ are native N/A speakers. N/A% speak N/A and N/A% speak N/A, the next two most common languages.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    5,229 ± 1,107

  2. Gulf War (2001-)

    1,993 ± 960

  3. Korea

    1,613 ± 610

Mercer County, NJ has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.62 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2016, universities in Mercer County, NJ awarded 10,498 degrees. The student population of Mercer County, NJ is skewed towards women, with 20,211 male students and 21,509 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Mercer County, NJ are White (5,847 and 59.6%), followed by Black or African American (1,035 and 10.6%), Unknown (953 and 9.72%), and Hispanic or Latino (921 and 9.39%).

The largest universities in Mercer County, NJ by number of degrees awarded are Thomas Edison State University (3,113 and 29.7%), The College of New Jersey (2,228 and 21.2%), and Princeton University (2,213 and 21.1%).

The most popular majors in Mercer County, NJ are General Business Administration & Management (766 and 7.3%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (746 and 7.11%), and Registered Nursing (719 and 6.85%).

The median tuition costs in Mercer County, NJ are $42,190 for private four year colleges, and $8,737 and $15,827 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. Registered Nursing

    556 degrees awarded

  2. General Business Administration & Management

    490 degrees awarded

  3. Other Multidisciplinary Studies

    424 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Mercer County, NJ was Registered Nursing with 556 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Mercer County, NJ according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. Thomas Edison State University

    3,113 degrees awarded

  2. The College of New Jersey

    2,228 degrees awarded

  3. Princeton University

    2,213 degrees awarded

$8,737

Median In-State Public

$42,190

Median Private

In 2016, the Mercer County, NJ institution with the largest number of graduating students was Thomas Edison State University with 3,113 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

4,860

Degrees Awarded to Men

5,638

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2016, 4,860 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Mercer County, NJ, which is 0.862 times less than the 5,638 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Mercer County, NJ by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    5,847 degrees awarded

  2. Black or African American

    1,035 degrees awarded

  3. Unknown

    953 degrees awarded

In 2016 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Mercer County, NJ were to White students. These 5,847 degrees mean that there were 5.65 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,035 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Mercer County, NJ was $293,800 in 2017, which is 1.35 times larger than the national average of $217,600. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $284,600 to $293,800, a 3.23% increase. The homeownership rate in Mercer County, NJ is 63.5%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Mercer County, NJ have an average commute time of 27.2 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Mercer County, NJ is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Income

Household Income

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

$79,173

Median Household Income

± $5,088

129k

Number of Households

± 5,567

In 2017, the median household income of the 129k households in Mercer County, NJ grew to $79,173 from the previous year's value of $77,650.

The following chart displays the households in Mercer County, NJ 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 $200k+ range.

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Housing

Property Value

$293,800

2017 Median

± $10,580

$284,600

2016 Median

± $9,297

In 2017, the median property value in Mercer County, NJ grew to to $293,800 from the previous year's value of $284,600.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Mercer County, NJ 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, NJ the largest share of households have a property value in the $300k - $400k range.

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Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Mercer County, NJ distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Mercer County, NJ the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

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Rent vs Own

63.5%

2017 Homeownership

63%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 63.5% of the housing units in Mercer County, NJ were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 63%.

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

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Mercer County, NJ distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Mercer County, NJ have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

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Commute Time

27.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Mercer County, NJ have a longer commute time (27.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.5 minutes). Additionally, 6.63% of the workforce in Mercer County, NJ have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    69.3%

  2. Carpooled

    11.5%

  3. Public Transit

    7.58%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Mercer County, NJ was Drove Alone (69.3%), followed by those who Carpooled (11.5%) and those who Public Transit (7.58%).

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.

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