Mercer County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Mercer County PA was $686 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Mercer County was $619 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Mercer County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Mercer County rental vacancy rates, Mercer County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Mercer County.
Real Gross Rent in Mercer County Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
| Mercer County PA Median Gross Rent | $686 | +4.57% | -6.79% |
Mercer County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Mercer County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $736 and is now $50 (6.79%) lower. Average gross rent for Mercer County peaked in real terms in 2005 at $689 and is now $70 (10.16%) lower. From a recent low of 565.0 in 2012, real average gross rent has now increased by $54 (9.56%).
Real Gross Rent: Mercer County PA Median, Mercer County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Mercer County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Mercer County PA Median |
Mercer County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $686 | $619 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $656 | $624 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $668 | $611 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $736 | $668 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $701 | $628 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $677 | $621 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $675 | $613 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $627 | $565 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $629 | $566 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $626 | $605 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $677 | $611 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $700 | $640 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $710 | $689 |
Mercer County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Mercer County Pennsylvania was 5.79% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Mercer County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Mercer County PA | 5.79% | +4.39% | +2.85% |
Trends in Mercer County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Mercer County peaked in 2009 at 11.36%. Since then it has fallen by 5.57% to 5.79%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 1.01%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 4.78%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Mercer County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Mercer County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Mercer County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 5.79% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 1.40% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 1.01% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 2.94% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.67% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 9.48% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 10.61% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 6.44% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | — |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 8.63% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 11.36% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 5.70% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Mercer County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Mercer County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.09% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Mercer County Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
| Mercer County PA | 15.09% | -0.73% | -1.82% |
Trends in Mercer County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Mercer County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.65%. Since then it has fallen by 2.56% to 15.09%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Mercer County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Mercer County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Mercer County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 15.09% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 15.82% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 16.62% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 16.91% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 16.86% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 17.65% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 17.39% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 16.79% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 16.77% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 16.63% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 16.41% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 17.40% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 17.49% |
Renter Fraction in Mercer County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Mercer County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Mercer County as a fraction of total Mercer County households. In 2019 27.90% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Mercer County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Mercer County PA | 27.90% | -1.19% | +0.83% |
Trends in the Mercer County PA Renter Fraction
The Mercer County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 29.43% and is now 1.53% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Mercer County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Mercer County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Mercer County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 27.90% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 29.09% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 29.43% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 27.07% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 26.05% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 26.67% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 26.97% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 26.58% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 25.87% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 25.83% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 27.43% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 23.17% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 23.37% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / Pennsylvania
- / Mercer County
