Lead Paint Risk in Mercer County, Illinois
77.6%Pre-1978 Housing
5,650Pre-1978 Units
7,279Total Housing Units
4Census Tracts
How to Interpret This
This is an area-level screening signal based on Census housing-age data. It does not confirm lead paint in any specific home. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and certified inspection or testing is the only way to confirm a property-level hazard.
Reporter / Resident Story Kit
- 5,650 housing units in Mercer County were built before 1978.
- The county's pre-1978 housing share is 77.6%, compared with the state rate of 64.1%.
- Local questions: Which neighborhoods have the oldest housing stock? Are lead-safe renovation resources available? Do renters and families with young children know how to request testing?
Highest-Risk Census Tracts
Individual census tracts ranked by pre-1978 housing percentage. Showing the top 4 of 4 tracts; download the full county tract CSV.
| Tract | Pre-1978 | Total | Risk Rate | 1970s | 1960s | 1950s | 1940s | ≤1939 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census Tract 404 | 1,482 | 1,827 | 81.1% | 320 | 132 | 142 | 164 | 724 |
| Census Tract 403 | 1,436 | 1,778 | 80.8% | 235 | 244 | 209 | 145 | 603 |
| Census Tract 402 | 1,279 | 1,666 | 76.8% | 246 | 108 | 129 | 85 | 711 |
| Census Tract 401 | 1,453 | 2,008 | 72.4% | 475 | 273 | 190 | 81 | 434 |