Mercer County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.4 | 381,671 people · 9th most distressed in New Jersey
American Default Research

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Mercer County, NJ registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.4 — 1251st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within New Jersey, it ranks 9th of 21 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mercer County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 89.5 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 89.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 90
Economic Vitality 52.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Legal Distress 49.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Consumer Credit Distress 48.1
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 44
Structural Poverty 30.4
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 54
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 7

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mercer County
Mercer County, NJ 55.4 Elevated —
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal -6.0
Middlesex County, NJ 46.0 Normal -9.4
Monmouth County, NJ 39.3 Normal -16.1
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy -20.7
Somerset County, NJ 33.7 Healthy -21.7
Hunterdon County, NJ 26.3 Healthy -29.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mercer County
Henrico County, VA 55.5 Elevated +0.1
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated +0.1
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated +0.1
Virginia Beach city, VA 55.5 Elevated +0.2
Delaware County, PA 55.2 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Mercer County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Mercer County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Mercer County.

ISLES, INCORPORATED
Trenton
609-341-4783 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in New Jersey →

Find an Attorney

New Jersey State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

New Jersey State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-792-8315

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Mercer County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of New Jersey 1-888-576-5529
Community Health Law Project
New Jersey State Bar Foundation — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-792-8315
Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (732) 249-7600
Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc. (973) 624-4500
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Inc. (908) 231-0840
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation (201) 792-6363
South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (800) 496-4570

Self-Help Resources

NJ Courts Foreclosure Self-Help Center Official NJ Courts self-help guidance on foreclosure proceedings

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in New Jersey →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Mercer County, New Jersey?

    Mercer County has a County Distress Index score of 55.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,251st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mercer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mercer County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 89.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Mercer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mercer County (55.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Burlington County, NJ (49.4); Middlesex County, NJ (46.0); Monmouth County, NJ (39.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Mercer County's score of 55.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Mercer County's CDI score?

    Mercer County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Mercer County?

    Mercer County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 381,671 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.