1st Advantage MortgageIn Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $65,008 a year and the typical rent is $785. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Armstrong County
- How much Armstrong County households make
- Renting and owning in Armstrong County
- Work, industries and travel time in Armstrong County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Armstrong County
- Regional comparison for Armstrong County
- People and households in Armstrong County
- Reading the Armstrong County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Armstrong County
- Pennsylvania rules that apply in Armstrong County
- Checklist for Armstrong County applicants
- More guides for Armstrong County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Armstrong County
Roughly 64,622 residents live in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 40th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. It covers 653 square miles of land, or about 99 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Kittanning is the biggest of its 24 Census places, at roughly 3,902 people (6% of the county total).
How much Armstrong County households make
At $65,008, the typical Armstrong County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Armstrong County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -7.1 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.8%, the same as the state's 11.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.429 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Armstrong County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Armstrong County
Renters in Armstrong County pay a median of $785 a month, 35% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. With a median value of $157,300, a typical Armstrong County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 79% of homes.
| Cost | Armstrong County | Pennsylvania figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $157,300 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.5% | 3.5% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Work, industries and travel time in Armstrong County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 11% for Pennsylvania. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Armstrong County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -4.6 pts |
| Other services | 6.5% | +1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Armstrong County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Armstrong County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 24 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 38% of Armstrong County residents live in one of the 24. West Hills has the highest median household income on the list ($97,754) and Parker the lowest ($39,583), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $615 in Dayton to $1,031 in Orchard Hills. No Armstrong County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 24.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kittanning | borough | 3,902 | $51,711 | $705 | 3 mi |
| Ford City | borough | 2,813 | $57,971 | $906 | 5 mi |
| Leechburg | borough | 1,985 | $48,207 | $814 | 15 mi |
| Freeport | borough | 1,708 | $48,843 | $774 | 14 mi |
| West Hills | CDP | 1,584 | $97,754 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Orchard Hills | CDP | 1,546 | $61,442 | $1,031 | 17 mi |
| Apollo | borough | 1,488 | $52,000 | $691 | 17 mi |
| West Kittanning | borough | 1,284 | $65,547 | $924 | 4 mi |
| North Apollo | borough | 1,156 | $66,629 | $775 | 16 mi |
| Lenape Heights | CDP | 1,042 | $76,250 | $695 | 5 mi |
| Rural Valley | borough | 1,019 | $68,512 | $685 | 8 mi |
| Pleasant View | CDP | 809 | $75,804 | $875 | 15 mi |
| Parker | city | 634 | $39,583 | $792 | 22 mi |
| Dayton | borough | 521 | $58,448 | $615 | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Armstrong County
Distances run center to center, from Indiana County at 23 miles out to Allegheny County at 36. Butler County leads the group on income ($89,843), Jefferson County trails ($58,686), and Armstrong County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong County | - | $65,008 | $785/mo | 79% |
| Indiana County, PA | 23 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 72% |
| Butler County, PA | 25 mi | $89,843 | $1,041/mo | 77% |
| Clarion County, PA | 27 mi | $62,649 | $798/mo | 72% |
| Jefferson County, PA | 33 mi | $58,686 | $750/mo | 75% |
| Westmoreland County, PA | 35 mi | $74,109 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Allegheny County, PA | 36 mi | $78,548 | $1,153/mo | 65% |
People and households in Armstrong County
19% of Armstrong County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.0%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Armstrong County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Armstrong County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.8% |
Reading the Armstrong County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Armstrong County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 22% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Armstrong County budgets.
- Fixed incomes. Armstrong County's median age is 47.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Room for a loan payment in Armstrong County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Armstrong County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,417 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $785 uses 14%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,111 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,438 total minus rent leaves $1,653
If your rent is above $785, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Pennsylvania rules that apply in Armstrong County
Armstrong County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania personal loans.
Checklist for Armstrong County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Armstrong County
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Armstrong County a high-income county?
Its $65,008 median ranks 38th of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Armstrong County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $785 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Armstrong County?
By population: Kittanning, Ford City, Leechburg, Freeport, West Hills. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Does living in Armstrong County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Armstrong County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Armstrong County residents?
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Pennsylvania; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.