The Town FilesMercer, Wisconsin
Town in Iron County · population 1,649 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $287,100
- Household income
- $63,281
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 118 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 63.4
Mercer is a town of 1,649 people in Iron County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $287,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 100% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Wisconsin towns.
How Mercer ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mercer is worth $287,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $63,281, which is more affordable than 6% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $338 a month. 89.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mercer | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $287,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $338 | $951 |
| Median household income | $63,281 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.2% | — |
Who lives in Mercer
| People | Mercer | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Mercer
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 0.4°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 117.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mercer since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 14, 1958 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 18, 2002.
Severe weather in Iron County since 1996
Iron County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iron County
Iron County had 1,686 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,528 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Mercer itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Mercer
1 public school with 105 students, about 7.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer School | PK-12 | 105 | 7.0 |
Towns near Mercer
- Mercer, WI4.4 mi · 551 people · home $212,500
- Manitowish Waters, WI12.8 mi · 624 people · home $762,100
- Winchester, WI13.2 mi · 528 people · home $395,100
- Eisenstein, WI16.9 mi · 625 people · home $194,500
- Lac du Flambeau, WI17.3 mi · 1,845 people · home $134,800
- Lac du Flambeau, WI17.5 mi · 3,552 people · home $340,900
- Jacobs, WI18.5 mi · 648 people · home $99,100
- Bessemer, MI19.3 mi · 1,135 people · home $103,900
Mercer questions
Is Mercer, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mercer scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 100%. 44.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.4).
How much does a house cost in Mercer?
The median owner-occupied home in Mercer is valued at $287,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,281, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $338 a month.
What is the weather like in Mercer?
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 117.5 inches of snow.
Does Mercer get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mercer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 14, 1958. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)