RANK #515 / 1001 NAT · #27 / 44 PA · POP 109,257
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Mercer County, Pennsylvania, offers a blend of small-town charm and natural beauty, often highlighted by locals through its outdoor recreation opportunities. Maurice K. Goddard State Park, featuring the 1,860-acre Lake Wilhelm, provides fishing, hiking, and biking. Pymatuning State Park is another large park with extensive recreational activities. Located in northwestern Pennsylvania along the Ohio border, Mercer County is about an hour north of Pittsburgh, with Interstates 79 and 80 providing access. Towns like Grove City, Hermitage, and Sharon contribute to the community's feel, with Grove City known for its college and outlet mall.
Life in Mercer County is characterized by a lower cost of living and a community-focused atmosphere. Public schools in the county are generally above average. Commute times are manageable, and transportation options include local bus services. The economy is seeing growth, particularly in manufacturing, with local companies contributing to advanced projects. There is also ongoing development in industrial and logistics sectors, with new facilities planned. The county actively works to attract new residents, including remote workers, through relocation incentive programs in some towns.
Mercer County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.6% YoY, population -0.5%, wages +1.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Cake (Warehousing and Distribution Center)
SunCap Property Group
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Hickory Fields Development (Former Shenango Valley Mall)
Flicore LLC
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Joy Baking Group Cookie Plant Expansion
Joy Baking Group
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Wheatland Tube Automated Warehouse and Racking System
Zekelman Industries (Wheatland Tube)
|
$50M | Completed |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (10 projects)
Aspen Power
|
$42M | Completed |
|
Solar Facility on Reclaimed Mine Land
Integrated Consulting
|
$40M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Mercer County scores 48/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#515). Median household income is $59,976 and job growth is running at -1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Mercer County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $164,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $843/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Both population (-0.5% YoY) and employment (-1.4%) are contracting in Mercer County, though housing tells its own story with values moving +0.6% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.47% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Mercer County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.