Mercer County, WV

County

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    2024 Population
    58,563
    US Senator
    Shelley Moore Capito
    Republican Party
    US Senator
    Jim Justice
    Republican Party
    2024 Median Age
    43.5
    0.462% 1-year increase
    2024 Poverty Rate
    16.5%
    8.3% 1-year decrease
    2024 Median Household Income
    $53,210
    11.3% 1-year growth
    2024 Median Property Value
    $121,700
    2.61% 1-year growth
    2024 Employed Population
    23,338
    2.27% 1-year growth

    About

    None of the households in Mercer County, WV reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

    99.7% of the residents in Mercer County, WV are U.S. citizens.

    The largest universities in Mercer County, WV are Concord University (442 degrees awarded in 2024), Bluefield State University (273 degrees), and Mercer County Technical Education Center (89 degrees).

    In 2024, the median property value in Mercer County, WV was $121,700, and the homeownership rate was 72.9%.

    Most people in Mercer County, WV drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24 minutes. The average car ownership in Mercer County, WV was 2 cars per household.

    United StatesWest VirginiaBluefield, WV-VA

    Population & Diversity

    Mercer County, WV is home to a population of 58.6k people, from which 99.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 0.632% of Mercer County, WV residents were born outside of the country (370 people).

    In 2024, there were 20.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (51.9k people) in Mercer County, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.51k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 2.37k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

    Population & Diversity

    Citizenship

    99.7%
    2024 Citizenship
    99.6%
    2023 Citizenship

    As of 2024, 99.7% of Mercer County, WV residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Mercer County, WV was 99.6%, 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.

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    Diversity

    Race and Ethnicity

    The 3 largest ethnic groups in Mercer County, WV
    1. White (Non-Hispanic)
      51.9k ± 537
    2. Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
      2.51k ± 383
    3. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
      2.37k ± 355
    1.35%
    Hispanic Population
    789 people

    In 2024, there were 20.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (51.9k people) in Mercer County, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.51k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 2.37k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

    1.35% of the people in Mercer County, WV are hispanic (789 people).

    The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Mercer County, WV as a share of the total population.

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    Global Diversity

    The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.
    Most Common Origin
    1. Mexico
      2,614 ± 1,254 people
    2. Philippines
      2,231 ± 1,159 people
    3. India
      2,211 ± 1,154 people

    In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of West Virginia was Mexico, the natal country of 2,614 West Virginia residents, followed by Philippines with 2,231 and India with 2,211.

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    Foreign-Born Population

    0.632%
    2024 Foreign-Born Population
    370 people
    0.84%
    2023 Foreign-Born Population
    496 people

    As of 2024, 0.632% of Mercer County, WV residents (370 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Mercer County, WV was 0.84%, 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.

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    Military

    Veterans

    Most Common Service Period
    1. Vietnam
      1,313 ± 255
    2. Gulf War (2001-)
      834 ± 264
    3. Gulf War (1990s)
      519 ± 185

    Mercer County, WV has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.57 times greater than any other conflict.

    The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Mercer County, WV.

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    Health

    95.1% of the population of Mercer County, WV has health coverage, with 39.3% on employee plans, 24.4% on Medicaid, 17.1% on Medicare, 12.2% on non-group plans, and 2.13% on military or VA plans.

    Primary care physicians in Mercer County, WV see 1,970 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,970 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2348 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 605 patients per year.

    By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

    Coverage

    Patient to Clinician Ratios

    1,970 to 1
    Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Mercer County, WV

    Primary care physicians in Mercer County, WV see an average of 1,970 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,970 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.

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    Health Care Diversity

    In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.5% under 18 years, 18.1% between 18 and 34 years, 36.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 22.5% over 64 years.

    By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

    The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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    Uninsured People

    4.91%
    Uninsured
    39.3%
    Employer Coverage
    24.4%
    Medicaid
    17.1%
    Medicare
    12.2%
    Non-Group
    2.13%
    Military or VA

    Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Mercer County, WV declined by 14.6% from 5.75% to 4.91%.

    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.

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    Health Indicators

    Health Outcomes

    Indicator

    In 2025, the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) was 7.37 in Mercer County, WV.

    The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Mercer County, WV.

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    Health Behaviors

    Indicator

    In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 42.5% in Mercer County, WV.

    The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Mercer County, WV.

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    Clinical Care

    Indicator

    In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 7.94% in Mercer County, WV.

    The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Mercer County, WV.

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    Economy

    The economy of Mercer County, WV employs 23.3k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Mercer County, WV were Health Care & Social Assistance (4,360 people), Retail Trade (3,386 people), and Educational Services (2,626 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($128,009), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($83,058), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($72,452).

    Employment

    Occupations

    23.3k
    2024 Value
    ± 1,425
    2.27%
    1 Year growth
    ± 8.35%

    From 2023 to 2024, employment in Mercer County, WV grew at a rate of 2.27%, from 22.8k employees to 23.3k employees.

    The most common job groups, by number of people living in Mercer County, WV, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,444 people), Sales & Related Occupations (2,414 people), and Management Occupations (1,710 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Mercer County, WV.

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    Unemployment Insurance Claims

    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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    Industries

    Employment by Industries

    23.3k
    2024 Value
    ± 1,425
    2.27%
    1 Year growth
    ± 8.35%

    From 2023 to 2024, employment in Mercer County, WV grew at a rate of 2.27%, from 22.8k employees to 23.3k employees.

    The most common employment sectors for those who live in Mercer County, WV, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,360 people), Retail Trade (3,386 people), and Educational Services (2,626 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.

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    Median Earnings by Industry

    $46,663
    Median earning men ± $3,811
    $33,447
    Median earning women ± $2,729

    The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($93,875), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($85,096), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($72,452).

    The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($49,196), Information ($46,629), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($43,254).

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    Employment by Industry Sector

    Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.
    Y-Axis
    0.583%
    Year-over-year growth
    Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

    As of February 2023, there are 690k people employed in West Virginia. This represents a 0.583% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

    Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 15%.

    The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in West Virginia.

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    Establishments by Size

    The industries with the most establishments
    1. 115
      Other Services (except Public Administration)
    2. 72
      Retail Trade
    3. 58
      Health Care and Social Assistance

    The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

    The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

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    Payroll by Industry Sector

    The industries with the highest total annual payroll
    1. $201k
      Health Care and Social Assistance
    2. $120k
      Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
    3. $98.8k
      Retail Trade

    The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

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    Civics

    In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in West Virginia went to Donald J. Trump with 70% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (28.1%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.17%).

    Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice 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 2 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

    Presidential Elections

    Voting results are not available for Mercer County, WV. Showing the available data for West Virginia.
    2024 Election Results
    1. Donald J. Trump (70%)
      Republican Party
    2. Kamala Harris (28.1%)
      Democratic Party
    3. Robert Kennedy (1.17%)
      Independent Party

    In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in West Virginia went to Donald J. Trump with 70% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (28.1%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.17%).

    The following chart shows the popular vote results in West Virginia for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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    Senator Elections

    US Senators from West Virginia

    Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.
    Shelley Moore Capito
    Senator from West Virginia2
    Assumed office on January 3, 2015
    Jim Justice
    Senator from West Virginia1
    Assumed office on January 14, 2025
    Inauguration delayed in order to finish his term as Governor of West Virginia.

    Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice 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.

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    Education

    In 2024, universities in Mercer County, WV awarded 804 degrees. The student population of Mercer County, WV in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 1,235 male students and 1,969 female students.

    Most students graduating from Universities in Mercer County, WV are White (688 and 87.2%), Black or African American (58 and 7.35%), Two or More Races (23 and 2.92%), and Hispanic or Latino (9 and 1.14%).

    The largest universities in Mercer County, WV by number of degrees awarded are Concord University (442 and 55%), Bluefield State University (273 and 34%), and Mercer County Technical Education Center (89 and 11.1%).

    The most popular majors in Mercer County, WV are Social Work (108 and 13.4%), General Studies (93 and 11.6%), and Registered Nursing (86 and 10.7%).

    The median tuition cost for a public four year colleges is $9,556 for in-state students and $19,088 for out-of-state students.

    Admissions & Enrollments

    Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

    University
    Measure

    In 2024 in Mercer County, WV, the percentage of applicants admitted was 93.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 21.4%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 3,204 (38.5% men and 61.5% women).

    The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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    Enrollments by Gender and Races

    Universities

    In 2024 there were 3,204 students enrolled in Mercer County, WV, 38.5% men and 61.5% women.

    By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,386 records, of which 66.9% were women and 33.1% men.

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    Completions

    Concentrations

    Most Common
    1. General Studies
      93 degrees awarded
    2. General Business Administration & Management
      50 degrees awarded
    3. Elementary Education & Teaching
      40 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Mercer County, WV was General Studies with 93 degrees awarded.

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

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    Universities

    Gender
    Race
    Largest Universities by degrees awarded
    1. Concord University
      442 degrees awarded
    2. Bluefield State University
      273 degrees awarded
    3. Mercer County Technical Education Center
      89 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Concord University with 442 degrees awarded.

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    Student Diversity

    University

    In 2024, 278 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Mercer County, WV, which is 0.529 times less than the 526 female students who received degrees in the same year.

    In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 688 degrees mean that there were 11.9 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 58 degrees awarded.

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    Awarded Degrees over Time

    The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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    Tuition

    Average Net Price by Sector

    Universities

    Public, 4-year or above ($9,556) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

    Public, 4-year or above ($1,100) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

    Public, 4-year or above ($1,150) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

    The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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    Housing & Living

    The median property value in Mercer County, WV was $121,700 in 2024, which is 0.366 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $118,600 to $121,700, a 2.61% increase. The homeownership rate in Mercer County, WV is 72.9%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

    People in Mercer County, WV have an average commute time of 24 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Mercer County, WV is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

    In 2025, 10.9% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Mercer County, WV. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 1.68%.

    Housing

    Property

    $121,700
    Median Property Value 2024
    ±$10,048
    $17,652
    Median Property Taxes
    ±$1,103

    The following chart display owner-occupied housing units 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.

    The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Mercer County, WV compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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    Rent vs Own

    72.9%
    Homeownership
    2024
    65.4%
    Homeowners with Mortgage
    2024

    In 2024, 72.9% of the housing units in Mercer County, WV were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 69.7%.

    This chart shows the percentage of owner in Mercer County, WV compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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    Equity

    Household Income

    Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
    $53,210
    Median Household Income
    ± $3,616
    24.2k
    Number of Households
    ± 1,287

    In 2024, the median household income of the 24.2k households in Mercer County, WV grew to $53,210 from the previous year's value of $47,799.

    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 $75k - $100k range.

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    Wage Distribution

    The closest comparable wage GINI for Mercer County, WV is from West Virginia.
    0.443
    2024 Wage GINI in West Virginia
    0.443
    2023 Wage GINI in West Virginia

    In 2024, the income inequality in West Virginia was 0.443 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0426% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for West Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.474. 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.

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    Transportation

    Commuter Transportation

    Most Common Commute in 2024
    1. Drove Alone (81.9%)
    2. Carpooled (7.01%)
    3. Worked At Home (6.6%)

    In 2024, 81.9% of workers in Mercer County, WV drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (7.01%) and those who worked at home (6.6%).

    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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    Commute Time

    24 minutes
    Average Travel Time

    Using averages, employees in Mercer County, WV have a shorter commute time (24 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.96% 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.

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    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.

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    Poverty

    Severe Housing Problems

    In 2025, 10.9% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Mercer County, WV. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 1.68%.

    The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

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    Poverty & Diversity

    16.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Mercer County, WV (9.41k out of 57.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 65 - 74 and then Females 45 - 54.

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

    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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    Children in Poverty

    In 2025, 25.6% of the children was living in poverty in Mercer County, WV. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.7%.

    The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

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    Security

    Crimes & Accidents

    Indicator

    In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 461 in Mercer County, WV. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 120% per 100,000 population.

    The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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