Mercer County, WV

County

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Population

60,486

0.782% 1-year decline

US Senator

Joe Manchin

Democratic Party

US Senator

Shelley Moore Capito

Republican Party

Median Age

42.7

Poverty Rate

19.8%

Median Household Income

$39,372

4.26% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$92,200

3.13% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

22,660

0.115% 1-year growth

About

In 2018, Mercer County, WV had a population of 60.5k people with a median age of 42.7 and a median household income of $39,372. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Mercer County, WV declined from 60,963 to 60,486, a -0.782% decrease and its median household income grew from $37,763 to $39,372, a 4.26% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Mercer County, WV are White (Non-Hispanic) (90.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (6.09%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.53%), White (Hispanic) (0.817%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.63%). NaNk% of the people in Mercer County, WV speak a non-English language, and 99.7% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Mercer County, WV are Concord University (582 degrees awarded in 2017), Bluefield State College (290 degrees), and Mercer County Technical Education Center (114 degrees).

The median property value in Mercer County, WV is $92,200, and the homeownership rate is 71%. Most people in Mercer County, WV commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 21.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Mercer County, WV is 2 cars per household.

Mercer County, WV borders Bland County, VA, Giles County, VA, Tazewell County, VA, McDowell County, WV, Raleigh County, WV, Summers County, WV, and Wyoming County, WV.

United States West Virginia Bluefield, WV-VA

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for West Virginia. 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in West Virginia (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 West Virginia.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of West Virginia 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, WV went to Donald J. Trump with 75.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (20.5%), followed by Other (3.8%). The most partisan county was Grant County, WV with 87.7% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are the senators currently representing the state of West Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

West Virginia is currently represented by 3 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 (75.7%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (20.5%)
Democratic Party
Other (3.8%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in West Virginia went to Donald J. Trump with 75.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (20.5%), followed by Other (3.8%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in West Virginia 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 West Virginia.

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, WV

75.7% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in West Virginia

Grant County, WV
87.7% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Wyoming County, WV
83.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Ritchie County, WV
83.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in West Virginia was Grant County, WV with 87.7% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

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

US Senators from West Virginia

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

Joe Manchin

Senator from West Virginia

Assumed office on November 15, 2010
Elected to the seat to succeed Carte Goodwin, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Robert Byrd.

Shelley Moore Capito

Senator from West Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are the senators currently representing West Virginia.

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 West Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from West Virginia

West Virginia is currently represented by 3 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 West Virginia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Mercer County, WV is home to a population of 60.5k people, from which 99.7% are citizens. As of 2018, 1.05% of Mercer County, WV residents were born outside of the country (637 people).

In 2018, there were 14.8 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (54.6k people) in Mercer County, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.68k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 927 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Mercer County, WV

White (Non-Hispanic)
54.6k ± 37
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
3.68k ± 183
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
927 ± 217

1.14%

Hispanic Population

690 people

1.14% of the people in Mercer County, WV are hispanic (690 people).

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

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

1.05%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

637 people

1.16%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

710 people

As of 2018, 1.05% of Mercer County, WV residents (637 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, WV was 1.16%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.4

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 8.8

In 2018, the median age of all people in Mercer County, WV was 42.7. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 43, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 58. But people in Mercer County, WV are getting staying the same age. In 2017, the average age of all Mercer County, WV residents was 43.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
2,603 ± 1,252 people
India
2,547 ± 1,238 people
China
2,428 ± 1,209 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of West Virginia was Mexico, the natal country of 2,603 West Virginia residents, followed by India with 2,547 and China with 2,428.

Citizenship

99.7%

2018 Citizenship

99.5%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 99.7% of Mercer County, WV residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Mercer County, WV was 99.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,939 ± 271
Gulf War (1990s)
547 ± 172
Korea
424 ± 144

Mercer County, WV has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 3.54 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Mercer County, WV is $39,372. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Mercer County, WV was Census Tract 11 with a value of $62,207, followed by Census Tract 23 and Census Tract 15, with respective values of $45,913 and $43,731.

Males in West Virginia have an average income that is 1.4 times higher than the average income of females, which is $39,552. The income inequality in West Virginia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.444, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Mercer County, WV employs 22.7k people. The largest industries in Mercer County, WV are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,606 people), Retail Trade (3,383 people), and Educational Services (2,438 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($76,066), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($70,385), and Wholesale Trade ($50,568).

Wages

Median Household Income

$39,372

2018 value

± $2,773

4.26%

1 Year Growth

± 8.59%

Households in Mercer County, WV have a median annual income of $39,372, 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 $37,763 in 2017, which represents a 4.26% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Mercer County, WV 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 West Virginia.

$55,526

Average Male Salary in West Virginia

± $2,063

$39,552

Average Female Salary in West Virginia

± $1,541

In 2017, full-time male employees in West Virginia made 1.4 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in West Virginia 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 West Virginia.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in West Virginia

Asian
$63,277 ± $23,510
American Indian
$44,513 ± $30,224
White
$42,144 ± $1,238

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of West Virginia workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.42 times more than American Indian workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in West Virginia.

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

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Mercer County, WV is from West Virginia.

0.444

2017 Wage GINI in West Virginia

0.444

2016 Wage GINI in West Virginia

In 2017, the income inequality in West Virginia was 0.444 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.108% decline from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for West Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in West Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in West Virginia 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 11
Census Tract 23
Census Tract 15

In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Mercer County, WV was Census Tract 11 with a value of $62,207, followed by Census Tract 23 and Census Tract 15, with respective values of $45,913 and $43,731.

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

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 55 - 64

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

19.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Mercer County, WV (11.7k out of 59.2k 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 55 - 64, followed by Females 35 - 44 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
10,256 ± 785
Black
984 ± 189
Two Or More
431 ± 173

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

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

22.7k

2018 Value

± 1,126

0.115%

1 Year growth

± 6.94%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Mercer County, WV grew at a rate of 0.115%, from 22.6k employees to 22.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Mercer County, WV, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,244 people), Sales & Related Occupations (2,615 people), and Production Occupations (1,400 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Mercer County, WV.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Mercer County, WV, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,244 people), Sales & Related Occupations (2,615 people), and Production Occupations (1,400 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Mercer County, WV has an unusually high number of residents working as Community & Social Service Occupations (1.73 times higher than expected), Health Technologists & Technicians (1.7 times), and Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (1.63 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Mercer County, WV, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($69,286), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($53,393), and Legal Occupations ($51,343).

Industries

Employment by Industries

22.7k

2018 Value

± 1,126

0.115%

1 Year growth

± 6.94%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Mercer County, WV grew at a rate of 0.115%, from 22.6k employees to 22.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Mercer County, WV, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,606 people), Retail Trade (3,383 people), and Educational Services (2,438 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Mercer County, WV, though some of these residents may live in Mercer County, WV 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, WV, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,606 people), Retail Trade (3,383 people), and Educational Services (2,438 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Mercer County, WV has an unusually high number of Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (4.08 times higher than expected), Health Care & Social Assistance (1.47 times), and Retail Trade (1.32 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Mercer County, WV, by median earnings, are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($76,066), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($70,385), and Wholesale Trade ($50,568).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

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

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Coal-n.e.c.
$17.4B
Coal
$7.3B
Pharmaceuticals
$6.62B

In 2015, the top outbound West Virginia product (by dollars) was Coal-n.e.c. with $17.4B, followed by Coal ($7.3B) and Pharmaceuticals ($6.62B).

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for West Virginia.

$68B

2015 Value in West Virginia

$86.9B

Projected 2045 Value in West Virginia

27.7% growth

In 2015, total outbound West Virginia trade was $68B. This is expected to increase 27.7% to $86.9B by 2045.

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

Interstate Trade

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

Most Common Trade Partners

Pennsylvania
$10.5B
Ohio
$6.95B
Virginia
$6.94B

In 2015, the top outbound West Virginia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Pennsylvania with $10.5B, followed by Ohio with $6.95B and Virginia and $6.94B.

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

Education

In 2017, universities in Mercer County, WV awarded 1,069 degrees. The student population of Mercer County, WV is skewed towards women, with 1,394 male students and 2,398 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Mercer County, WV are White (948 and 90.5%), followed by Black or African American (68 and 6.49%), Hispanic or Latino (11 and 1.05%), and Two or More Races (10 and 0.954%).

The largest universities in Mercer County, WV by number of degrees awarded are Concord University (582 and 54.4%), Bluefield State College (290 and 27.1%), and Mercer County Technical Education Center (114 and 10.7%).

The most popular majors in Mercer County, WV are General Studies (132 and 12.3%), General Business Administration & Management (101 and 9.45%), and Social Work (66 and 6.17%).

The median tuition costs in Mercer County, WV are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $7,151 and $14,843 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

Elementary Education & Teaching
60 degree-majorss awarded
General Studies
132 degree-majorss awarded
General Business Administration & Management
101 degree-majorss awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Mercer County, WV was Elementary Education & Teaching with 60 degree-majorss awarded.

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

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Concord University
582 degrees awarded
Bluefield State College
290 degrees awarded
Mercer County Technical Education Center
114 degrees awarded

$7,151

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2017, the Mercer County, WV institution with the largest number of graduating students was Concord University with 582 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

414

Degrees Awarded to Men

655

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 414 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Mercer County, WV, which is 0.632 times less than the 655 female students who received degrees in the same year.

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

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
948 degrees awarded
Black or African American
68 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
11 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Mercer County, WV were to White students. These 948 degrees mean that there were 13.9 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 68 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Mercer County, WV was $92,200 in 2018, which is 0.401 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $89,400 to $92,200, a 3.13% increase. The homeownership rate in Mercer County, WV is 71%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Mercer County, WV have an average commute time of 21.1 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Mercer County, WV is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$92,200

2018 Median

± $6,265

$89,400

2017 Median

± $5,189

In 2018, the median property value in Mercer County, WV grew to to $92,200 from the previous year's value of $89,400.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Mercer County, WV 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, WV 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.

$39,372

Median Household Income

± $2,773

24.9k

Number of Households

± 1,138

In 2018, the median household income of the 24.9k households in Mercer County, WV grew to $39,372 from the previous year's value of $37,763.

The following chart displays the households in Mercer County, WV 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 $60k - $75k range.

Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

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

Rent vs Own

71%

2018 Homeownership

71.8%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 71% of the housing units in Mercer County, WV 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, WV compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

21.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Mercer County, WV have a shorter commute time (21.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 1.81% of the workforce in Mercer County, WV have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
84.7%
Carpooled
9.81%
Walked
2.3%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Mercer County, WV was Drove Alone (84.7%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.81%) and those who Walked (2.3%).

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

Health

93.4% of the population of Mercer County, WV has health coverage, with 35.2% on employee plans, 29.2% on Medicaid, 15.8% on Medicare, 10.5% on non-group plans, and 2.74% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in West Virginia was $9,462 in 2014. This is a 5.5% increase from the previous year ($8,969).

Primary care physicians in Mercer County, WV see 1529 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.04% decrease from the previous year (1545 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2419 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 889 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, McDowell County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (19.7%). Additionally, McDowell County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (44.6%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,529 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Mercer County, WV

Primary care physicians in Mercer County, WV see an average of 1,529 patients per year. This represents a 1.04% decrease from the previous year (1,545 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Mercer County, WV 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 West Virginia.

$9,462

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in West Virginia

$3,917

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$6,557

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,268

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in West Virginia (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.5%, from $8,969 to $9,462.

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

Health Care Coverage

6.64%

Uninsured

35.2%

Employer Coverage

29.2%

Medicaid

15.8%

Medicare

10.5%

Non-Group

2.74%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Mercer County, WV declined by 7.58% from 7.18% to 6.64%.

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