Mercer County
MO · Pop. 3,501 · Rural County
Mercer County sits in Missouri across 454 square miles, home to 3,501 people at 7.7 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, hay, corn. A median home price of $95,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.95% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 179-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.4°F and average winter lows of 18.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 37.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Wright Memorial Hospital is 24.4 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.95% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $95,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- At 7.7 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- The nearest hospital, Wright Memorial Hospital, is 24.4 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- Wildfire risk is high, so defensible space and fire preparedness should be part of any build plan.
At a glance
Mercer County, MO is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 70/100
- Median home price
- $95k
- Property tax
- 0.95%
- Growing season
- 179 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 37.4"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Wright Memorial Hospital, 24.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Mercer County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Mercer County?
- Mercer County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 179-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.4°F, and average winter lows of 18.8°F. The established crops are soybeans, hay, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $95,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.95%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Wright Memorial Hospital is 24.4 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Missouri Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Missouri
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The closest counties to Mercer County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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