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Buying a home in Mercer County, Pennsylvania

The typical owner-occupied home in Mercer County is worth about $164,000, 36% below the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 51% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,936 a year in property taxes, about 1.18% of their home's value, lower than the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $59,976 a year, so the median home costs 2.7 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 48% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Mercer County at a glance

Mercer County Pennsylvania U.S.
Median home value $164,000 $254,500 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,936 $3,311 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.18% 1.30% 0.94%
Median household income $59,976 $77,971 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 72% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 48% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,266 $1,762 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.4% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $843 $1,209 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.3% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1963 1965 1980
Vacant homes 8.7% 9.2% 10.1%
Population 109,257 13,018,639 334,922,499

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 $164,000 with 20% down costs about $1,112 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,385, 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 $47,665 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Mercer County household income of $59,976; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $206,000.

The median rent here is $843 a month, so owning the median home costs about $269 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$32,800
Loan amount$131,200
Principal and interest$883
Property taxes (1.18% a year)$161
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$68
PMI$0
Total per month$1,112

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,740
Loan amount$161,030
Principal and interest$1,083
Property taxes (1.18% a year)$161
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$68
FHA mortgage insurance$73
Total per month$1,385

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Questions about home buying in Mercer County

What is the median home value in Mercer County?

About $164,000 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 $1,936 a year, which is about 1.18% 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 $1,112 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $47,665 a year.

More about Mercer County

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