Home Insurance in Mercer County, Illinois
Homes in Mercer County carry a median value of $146,700 - 44% lower than the Illinois median.
The typical home in Mercer County was built around 1962. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 48% of homes were built before 1960, about 10 points above Illinois's 38%.
The housing stock in Mercer County is 89% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes.
58% of owner-occupied homes in Mercer County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Mercer County has an owner-occupancy rate of 84% and a vacancy rate of 10%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Most homes in Mercer County - 60% - are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Mercer County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are strong wind (Relatively Moderate), hail (Very Low) and winter weather (Relatively Low).
As of September 2026, Mercer County has 18 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Illinois, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,480 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $146,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1962 |
| Owner-occupied share | 84% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 58% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Hail (Very Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 18 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,480 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)