County profile · Kentucky
Mercer County, KY market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Mercer County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 23,733
- +4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 9,181
- Median household income
- $64,824
- +17.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $202,300
- Jobs located here
- 6,702
- Highest market score
- 76
- Insurance agencies, #314 of 2,272 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 23,733 people live in Mercer County, in 9,181 households. Population estimates put the population change in Mercer County from 2020 to 2025 at +4.8%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Mercer County is $64,824 a year, 20% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 17.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Mercer County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 136, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (60).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Mercer County are for insurance agencies (76), home repair companies (74) and sit-down restaurants (74). Mercer County ranks #314 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
For its number of households, Mercer County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet businesses (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (63% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 76 | #314 of 2,272 | 10 | 10.9 | $2.4M | 195 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 74 | #130 of 2,057 | 9 | 9.8 | $2.7M | 111 | 7 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 74 | #265 of 2,405 | 29 | 31.6 | $1.1M | 162 | 11 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 74 | #267 of 2,405 | 60 | 65.4 | $520K | 140 | 23 |
| Gas stations | 72 | #355 of 2,358 | 13 | 14.2 | $2.2M | 92 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 69 | #466 of 2,402 | 14 | 15.2 | $3.7M | 110 | 5 |
| Real estate | 67 | #301 of 2,229 | 13 | 14.2 | Index only | 230 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 67 | #302 of 2,176 | 12 | 13.1 | Index only | 198 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 67 | #459 of 2,210 | 11 | 12.0 | $1.4M | 162 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 67 | #484 of 2,222 | 10 | 10.9 | $3.1M | 102 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 66 | #491 of 2,087 | 8 | 8.7 | $2M | 154 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 64 | #379 of 1,707 | 6 | 6.5 | $4.1M | 85 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 64 | #583 of 2,394 | 36 | 39.2 | $263K | 172 | 13 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 60 | #582 of 2,088 | 7 | 7.6 | $776K | 117 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 60 | #766 of 2,261 | 8 | 8.7 | $6.5M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 58 | #692 of 2,063 | 7 | 7.6 | $4.5M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 56 | #657 of 1,769 | 6 | 6.5 | $1.3M | 143 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 56 | #810 of 2,090 | 9 | 9.8 | $3.5M | 68 | 10 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 54 | #808 of 1,886 | 9 | 9.8 | $1.1M | 107 | 4 |
| Gyms | 47 | #1,028 of 1,792 | 5 | 5.4 | $1.1M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #1,422 of 2,385 | 36 | 39.2 | $209K | 98 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 43 | #894 of 1,461 | 5 | 5.4 | $1.5M | 58 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 42 | #1,458 of 2,200 | 21 | 22.9 | $350K | 40 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 41 | #1,614 of 2,339 | 23 | 25.1 | $327K | 76 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 40 | #994 of 1,451 | 5 | 5.4 | $1.7M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 39 | #946 of 1,356 | 5 | 5.4 | $1.5M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 38 | #1,756 of 2,401 | 43 | 46.8 | $201K | 75 | 15 |
| Veterinarians | 34 | #1,122 of 1,485 | 5 | 5.4 | $1.5M | 54 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 32 | #1,962 of 2,378 | 28 | 30.5 | $309K | 70 | 13 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $826K | 82 | 8 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $421K | 62 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $17.5M | 188 | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $4.2M | 247 | 4 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 101 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 177 | 6 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $15.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $6.2M | Too few | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $2.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $4.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $12.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $8.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $15.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $24.3M | Too few | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $12.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $15.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $9.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 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 | $8.7M | $943 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $28.4M | $3,098 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $31.2M | $3,398 | 83 |
| Groceries | $52.4M | $5,706 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.5M | $819 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.3M | $360 | 62 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.4M | $592 | 60 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.5M | $1,031 | 80 |
| Pets | $7.3M | $800 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $15.7M | $1,705 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $24.5M | $2,668 | 136 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $24.3M | $2,650 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $12.5M | $1,356 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $129.3M | $14,086 | 85 |
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
- 23,733+4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 9,181
- Median age
- 42.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 249 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 92
- Median household income
- $64,824+17.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $82,091
- Median home value
- $202,300
- Jobs located here
- 6,702
- Daytime population
- 19,848Residents 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 Kentucky 8
- Boyle County, KY30,941 people
- Jessamine County, KY54,588 people
- Anderson County, KY24,353 people
- Garrard County, KY17,568 people
- Washington County, KY12,140 people
- Woodford County, KY27,279 people
- Lincoln County, KY24,504 people
- Fayette County, KY323,725 people
Questions
How fast is Mercer County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Mercer County at 23,733 people in 2025, up 4.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 9,181 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 17.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Mercer County, KY spend?
Households in Mercer County spend about $129.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $52.4M on groceries and $31.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mercer County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 136, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (60).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Mercer County, KY?
Of the business types scored in Mercer County, insurance agencies (76), home repair companies (74) and sit-down restaurants (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #314 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Mercer County, KY compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Mercer County is $64,824, 20% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $202,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet businesses (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (63% 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. 29 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.