The typical owner-occupied home in Mercer County is worth about $146,700, 44% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 56% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,878 a year in property taxes, about 1.96% of their home's value, close to the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $74,182 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Mercer County at a glance
| Mercer County | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,700 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,878 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.96% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $74,182 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 84% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 58% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,327 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.1% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $786 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.1% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1962 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.9% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 15,495 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Mercer County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Mercer County home of $146,700 with 20% down costs about $1,090 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,335, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $46,724 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Mercer County household income of $74,182; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $233,000.
The median rent here is $786 a month, so owning the median home costs about $304 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $29,340 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $117,360 |
| Principal and interest | $789 |
| Property taxes (1.96% a year) | $240 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $61 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,090 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,134 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $144,043 |
| Principal and interest | $969 |
| Property taxes (1.96% a year) | $240 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $61 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $65 |
| Total per month | $1,335 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Mercer County
What is the median home value in Mercer County?
About $146,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Mercer County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,878 a year, which is about 1.96% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Mercer County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,090 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $46,724 a year.
More about Mercer County
- Mortgage Refinance in Mercer County
- Debt Relief in Mercer County
- Home Equity Loans in Mercer County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data