Mercer, North Dakota 06-14-2008, 2008
Mercer’s story
121 years in pictures
Census counts: 214 in 1950, 88 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1959 on.
- 1905Mercer is settled
MercerND
A town of 122, settled in 1905.
Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
122
2025 Census estimate · +37.1% since 2020
Median home value
$84K
Census ACS
Household income
$46K
median
Median age
58.8
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Mercer a good place to live?
Mercer’s average trip to work is 34 minutes, above both North Dakota’s towns (16 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). No town among the 24 in North Dakota we compare has a higher median age than Mercer. Mercer has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
122 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mercer: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mercer, and how to reach them.
PowerOtter Tail Power11.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Mercer water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Mercer’s trash rules yet
Register to voteNot requiredNorth Dakota has no voter registration: you show ID at the polls.vote.govWho runs elections hereMcLean County AuditorMcLean County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2022
ZIP code5855958559 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Mercer.
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than North Dakota overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 68% of residents (35% statewide); children under 18 are 0% of residents (24% statewide). Mercer has grown 37% since 2020, to 122 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across North Dakota.
58.8median age · ND 35.9
MercerNorth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
36%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma17%
High school42%
Some college0%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate8%
| Mercer | ND | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0% | 13% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 0% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3% | 11.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.6% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 21.2% | 10.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 36.4% | 11.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.1% | 9.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.7% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 17.2% | 6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 42.2% | 25.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 0% | 21.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.9% | 14% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.9% | 23% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.8% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Mercer has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Mercer has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. At 82°F, Mercer’s July high is against 82°F in North Dakota’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–23°
Spring29–52°
Summer54–80°
Fall32–54°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Cold waves leads a low hazard risk in Mercer
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
A larger share of adults have high blood pressure in Mercer than in most of North Dakota or the rest of the country
41% of adults have high blood pressure in Mercer. Only 2 of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Mercer. 19% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Mercer.
| Mercer | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 31% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 29% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 80% | 73% | 79% |
32 measures vs. North Dakota
8 better17 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Mercer | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.9% | 10.7% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 4.8% | 6.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12% | 8.2% |
CHI St. Alexius Health Turtle Lake
8.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mercer
16pages on Mercer
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mercer; the nearest are
Bismarck State CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bismarck46.5 mi$5,247 in-state tuitionMinot State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Minot58.9 mi$8,702 in-state tuitionCankdeska Cikana Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fort Totten86.7 mi$3,950 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Mercer residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
About Mercer
City in North Dakota, United States
Mercer is a city in McLean County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 88 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 126 in 2024, Mercer was founded in 1905 along a now-abandoned branch line of the Northern Pacific Railway extending from Carrington to Turtle Lake. The name comes from William Henry Harrison Mercer, a well known rancher in the Missouri River Valley for many years and for whom Mercer County is also named.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1905
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,929 ft
- ZIP code
- 58559
- Area code
- 701
Questions about Mercer
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mercer, ND a good place to live?
Mercer has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.