County profile · Illinois
Mercer County, IL market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Mercer County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 15,229
- −2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 6,565
- Median household income
- $74,182
- +24.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $146,700
- Jobs located here
- 3,052
- Highest market score
- 74
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #227 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mercer County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mercer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 15,229 people live in Mercer County, in 6,565 households. Population estimates show Mercer County declined 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Mercer County is $74,182 a year, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Mercer County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (69).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Mercer County are for medical and dental practices (74), gyms and studios (66) and hair salons (66). Mercer County ranks #227 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
Mercer County is part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island metro area. For its number of households, Mercer County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet businesses (62% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (62% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Mercer County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mercer County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 74 | #227 of 2,394 | 21 | 32.0 | $436K | 286 | 6 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 66 | #362 of 2,088 | 5 | 7.6 | $1.1M | 172 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 66 | #408 of 2,339 | 9 | 13.7 | $717K | 167 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #678 of 2,405 | 57 | 86.8 | $445K | 120 | 19 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #600 of 2,385 | 19 | 28.9 | $339K | 160 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 61 | #747 of 2,402 | 10 | 15.2 | $3.9M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 59 | #768 of 2,401 | 21 | 32.0 | $389K | 145 | 12 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 57 | #720 of 2,063 | 5 | 7.6 | $5.1M | 137 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 54 | #983 of 2,358 | 8 | 12.2 | $2.6M | 109 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 54 | #989 of 2,378 | 14 | 21.3 | $583K | 131 | 10 |
| Real estate | 52 | #969 of 2,229 | 10 | 15.2 | Index only | 211 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 47 | #1,193 of 2,176 | 8 | 12.2 | Index only | 209 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 47 | #1,320 of 2,405 | 37 | 56.4 | $685K | 103 | 10 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,206 of 2,090 | 9 | 13.7 | $2.8M | 55 | 7 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 40 | #1,263 of 1,771 | 6 | 9.1 | $1.3M | 79 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 36 | #1,697 of 2,200 | 11 | 16.8 | $501K | 57 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 35 | #1,630 of 2,272 | 7 | 10.7 | $1.8M | 143 | 11 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 18 | #1,386 of 1,461 | 6 | 9.1 | $918K | 36 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $656K | 65 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $2.3M | 96 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $3.2M | 364 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $2M | 68 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $2.3M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $8.5M | 204 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $13.2M | 167 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $13.2M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $5.9M | 241 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 245 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $1.8M | 67 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $12.7M | Too few | 7 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $522K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $8.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $9.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $17.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $12.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Mercer County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $8.2M | $1,243 | 130 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $20.8M | $3,167 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $25.4M | $3,862 | 95 |
| Groceries | $39.5M | $6,015 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.4M | $982 | 98 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.6M | $400 | 69 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.7M | $869 | 88 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.2M | $1,396 | 108 |
| Pets | $5.5M | $839 | 92 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.8M | $1,954 | 95 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.6M | $1,914 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $17.6M | $2,680 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8M | $1,219 | 86 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $91.3M | $13,910 | 83 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Mercer County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 15,229−2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 6,565
- Median age
- 43.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 84%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 561 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 28
- Median household income
- $74,182+24.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $92,846
- Median home value
- $146,700
- Jobs located here
- 3,052
- Daytime population
- 11,354Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Mercer County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Mercer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Illinois 8
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- Warren County, IL16,447 people
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- Henry County, IL48,643 people
- Henderson County, IL6,193 people
- Stark County, IL5,308 people
- McDonough County, IL26,920 people
- Fulton County, IL33,020 people
Questions
How fast is Mercer County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Mercer County at 15,229 people in 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 6,565 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Mercer County, IL spend?
Households in Mercer County spend about $91.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $39.5M on groceries and $25.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mercer County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (69).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Mercer County, IL?
Of the business types scored in Mercer County, medical and dental practices (74), gyms and studios (66) and hair salons (66) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #227 of 2,394 scored counties.
How does Mercer County, IL compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Mercer County is $74,182, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $146,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet businesses (62% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (62% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 18 of the 56 business types have a score in Mercer County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Mercer County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Mercer County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Mercer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.