Hermitage
RANK #357 / 996 NAT · #16 / 44 PA · POP 110,600
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
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.
Below national median
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.7x — home prices are low 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.
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 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Mercer County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $57,353 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in PA.
By national standards, Mercer County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $146,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $761/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Mercer County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.2% employment change). Home values are +0.8% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.04% 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.