The Town Files

Mercer County, Illinois

15,495 people. The median home is worth $146,700 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $74,182.

Towns in Mercer County

Towns in Mercer County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Aledo3,633$147,600$72,29238.4

People and housing

Mercer CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$146,700$156,600
Median rent$786$960
Median household income$74,182$72,500
Median age44.740.4
Bachelor's degree or higher20.9%21.8%
Below the poverty line8.9%9.9%

Jobs and pay

2,968 jobs in 2024, average pay $43,706 a year.

Largest industries in Mercer CountyManufacturing422 jobs · $63,787Retail347 jobs · $32,879Hotels & restaurants241 jobs · $16,100Wholesale trade198 jobs · $65,772Arts & recreation108 jobs · $13,526Finance & insurance101 jobs · $58,051
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Mercer County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 470 storm events in Mercer County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Mercer County by type since 1996Hail72Flood42Drought15Tornado35Dense Fog11Ice Storm9Heavy Snow14Flash Flood13Funnel Cloud10Winter Storm50
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Mercer County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
September 19, 2019FloodDR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding
May 10, 2013FloodDR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
June 24, 2008Severe StormDR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).