In Mercer County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Mercer County, 15.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 85% of U.S. counties.
What drives Mercer County's score
In Mercer County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 49.5. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 7.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Mercer County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Mercer County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (4.8%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 49.5 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202678th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.8% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
-
- 38.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.4% · August 202532nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people116.2 · 202544th percentile
-
- 27.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.7% · August 202521st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.7% · August 202528th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.5% · second quarter of 202631st percentile
-
- 17.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.1% · 202415th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.0% · 202417th percentile
- People with a disability13.0% · 2020 to 202422nd percentile
- People without health insurance4.6% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,428 · 202418th percentile
-
- 7.7 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent9.1% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.6% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Mercer County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Mercer County, 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Mercer County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Mercer County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 24.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Mercer County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 24.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Mercer County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 8.9% in 2019 to 11.1% in 2020.
The share of households in Mercer County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2021 and has since fallen to 9.9%
Low on the chart: 6.1% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Mercer County, Illinois.
How Mercer County has changed
Mercer County's population had its largest rise, from 17,815 in 1974 to 19,575 in 1979.
Mercer County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1979 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 19,575 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Mercer County, Illinois.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Mercer County rose 16% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 3,208 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Mercer County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.2% | 2025 5.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.3% | 2024 9.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,107 | 2024 $81,428 |
The table uses 5.1% for 2025; the score uses 4.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Mercer County's history
1825
Formed January 13, 1825, from unorganized territory. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 20,945. The 2020 Census counted 15,699, 75% of the peak. Census Bureau
1997
Lightning in June 1997 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A flash flood in April 2003 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A thunderstorm in July 2003 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A flash flood in May 2010 did $5,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1965
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Mercer County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
Mercer County beside its neighbors
All seven counties that border Mercer County, in Illinois and Iowa, score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Mercer County ranks 6th of the eight; Knox County is highest, at 33.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County, IL | 62 | 15.7% | 33.9% |
| Des Moines County, IA | 57 | 14.0% | 25.5% |
| Rock Island County, IL | 53 | 12.6% | 24.7% |
| Henderson County, IL | 47 | 13.4% | 28.2% |
| Warren County, IL | 30 | 14.0% | 24.4% |
| Henry County, IL | 18 | 9.4% | 21.7% |
| Louisa County, IA | 15 | 9.5% | 24.2% |
| Mercer County, IL | 14 | 9.1% | 24.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Mercer County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Mercer County's poverty rate was 9.1% in 2024, 83rd highest of 102 in Illinois (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Alexander County, at 24.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Mercer County ranks 91st of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Mercer County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Prairie State Legal Services
Legal aid
-
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal help website
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Mercer County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Mercer County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.