HomeNew JerseyMercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey: commercial real estate data.
Mercer County, New Jersey had an estimated 392,138 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 387,333, across 225 square miles. County output reached $56.81 bn in 2024, 9,683 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 456 7(a) approvals worth $253.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Mercer County
How many people live in Mercer County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024385,864
- Households144,114
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$100,645
- Median age39.5
- Median gross rent$1,623 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$377,700
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher45.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree21.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over261,611
- Population under 1884,828
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over61,557
- Share 65 and over16.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64239,479
- Civilian labor force202,808
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.4 percent
- Rank by population among New Jersey counties12th of 21
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included193rd of 3,222
Mercer County is the 12th largest of 21 New Jersey counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.0 percent against 16.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Mercer County
Is Mercer County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024392,138
- Census 2020 base population387,333
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.24 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20245,842
- Births, 20244,245
- Deaths, 20243,060
- Natural change, 20241,185
- Net domestic migration, 2024-2,719
- Net international migration, 20247,344
- Total net migration, 20244,625
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-16,092
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1406th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.24 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Mercer County
Where are people moving to Mercer County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving8,698
- People arriving, from those returns14,847
- Tax returns filed by households leaving10,685
- Net household movement-1,987
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.05 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-151.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$120,760
- Average income of a leaving household$112,515
- Largest single originMiddlesex County (1,452 households)
- Largest single destinationBurlington County (1,454 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 1,452 | 2,750 | $242.9 m |
| Burlington County | 693 | 1,108 | $49.6 m |
| Bucks County | 432 | 697 | $32.9 m |
| Somerset County | 363 | 654 | $53.2 m |
| Monmouth County | 351 | 557 | $35.2 m |
| Ocean County | 284 | 428 | $19.9 m |
| Hudson County | 277 | 566 | $45.6 m |
| Kings County | 246 | 484 | $22.6 m |
Households arriving report $8,245 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Middlesex County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Mercer County
What is the Mercer County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$56.81 bn
- County GDP, 2023$54.42 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.4 percent
- GDP change over five years41.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Jersey areas BEA publishes6th of 21
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes104th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$147,219
Output grew 4.4 percent in the latest year and 41.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Mercer County
Employment by industry in Mercer County
- Covered employment, annual average264,154
- Establishments reporting11,677
- Average annual pay$90,503
- Average weekly wage$1,740
- Health care and social assistance, employment28,730
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$70,701
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment24,547
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$156,393
- Retail trade, employment18,517
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,342
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment16,377
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$46,418
- Educational services, employment15,734
- Finance and insurance, employment14,692
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 28,730 | 2,123 | $70,701 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 24,547 | 1,781 | $156,393 |
| Retail trade | 18,517 | 1,120 | $40,342 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 16,377 | 732 | $46,418 |
| Educational services | 15,734 | 244 | $100,981 |
| Finance and insurance | 14,692 | 546 | $155,381 |
| Accommodation and food services | 12,694 | 834 | $29,630 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11,135 | 201 | $50,690 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 28,730 jobs, 10.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Mercer County
How many businesses are in Mercer County?
- Establishments, all industries9,683
- Employment at those establishments208,192
- Annual payroll$17.98 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Mercer County
Building permits in Mercer County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,026
- Declared construction value permitted$347.2 m
- Single family units authorized827
- Multifamily units authorized1,199
- Multifamily share of units59.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$171,374
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.1
Multifamily is 59.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Mercer County
SBA loans in Mercer County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded456
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$253.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$556,138
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,410,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,687
- Jobs per approval10.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active77
- Distinct industries receiving approvals150
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms81
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter349
- Franchise loans56
- Franchise share of approvals12.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (30)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (70)
- 504 approvals recorded57
- 504 gross approval dollars$75.0 m
- Average 504 approval$1,315,632
- Median 504 approval$758,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval19.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.7
- Most active CDCTrenton Business Assistance Corporation (45)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$328.6 m
The average approval of $556,138 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Mercer County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Mercer County
Do SBA loans in Mercer County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded80
- Paid in full75
- Charged off5
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans6.3 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure275
- Status: Paid in full75
- Status: Cancelled63
- Status: Charged off5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed38
Of the 80 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Mercer County
SBA lending by place in Mercer County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending23
- Trenton, approvals116
- Princeton, approvals86
- Hamilton, approvals42
- Ewing, approvals40
- Lawrence Township, approvals36
- East Windsor, approvals29
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton | 116 | $69,419,700 |
| Princeton | 86 | $43,889,900 |
| Hamilton | 42 | $28,929,300 |
| Ewing | 40 | $14,236,900 |
| Lawrence Township | 36 | $11,951,000 |
| East Windsor | 29 | $9,318,200 |
| Pennington | 20 | $11,610,100 |
| Robbinsville | 19 | $14,381,500 |
| 15 other borrower cities | 68 | $49,862,100 |
Trenton accounts for 116 approvals against 86 in Princeton. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Mercer County
How large is Mercer County?
- Land area225 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Jersey counties16th of 21
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south19.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land1,715
- Establishments per square mile43.04
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Mercer County
Flood risk in Mercer County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Mercer County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Mercer County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Mercer County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Mercer County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024385,864
- Households144,114
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$100,645
- Median age39.5
Common questions
Mercer County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Mercer County, New Jersey?
The Census Bureau estimates 392,138 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 385,864, in 144,114 households, ranking 12th of 21 New Jersey counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Mercer County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.24 percent since the 2020 census base of 387,333, to 392,138 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 4,245 births against 3,060 deaths, with net migration of 4,625. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Mercer County?
$100,645. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $377,700, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,623 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Mercer County?
9,683 establishments, employing 208,192 people with an annual payroll of $17.98 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Mercer County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 28,730 jobs, 10.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 264,154 jobs at an average annual pay of $90,503, or $1,740 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Mercer County?
456 7(a) approvals totaling $253.6 m since FY2020, across 77 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 57 504 approvals worth $75.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Mercer County get paid back?
Of the 80 loans that have reached a final outcome, 75 were paid in full and 5 charged off, a charge-off rate of 6.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Mercer County?
2,026 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $347.2 m. Multifamily was 59.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Mercer County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Mercer County come from?
The largest single origin is Middlesex County, with 1,452 households. Arriving households report an average income of $120,760 against $112,515 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Mercer County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Mercer County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Mercer County
Cities and places in Mercer.
18 Census places lie wholly or partly in Mercer County. All 18 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | city | 90,338 | 116 | Wholly in this county |
| Princeton | place | 30,756 | 86 | Wholly in this county |
| Mercerville | CDP | 13,535 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Hamilton Square | CDP | 11,622 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| White Horse | CDP | 10,507 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Twin Rivers | CDP | 8,382 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Yardville | CDP | 6,301 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hightstown | borough | 5,920 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Lawrenceville | CDP | 3,924 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Robbinsville Center | CDP | 3,777 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| The College of New Jersey | CDP | 3,658 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Groveville | CDP | 3,100 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pennington | borough | 2,827 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Princeton Junction | CDP | 2,025 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Hopewell | borough | 1,823 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Washington Crossing | CDP | 536 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Titusville | CDP | 501 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Windsor | CDP | 325 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 188 of the county's 456 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Mercer County, the largest being Hamilton (42), Ewing (40), Lawrence Township (36). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.