1st Advantage MortgageIn Bradford County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $63,675 a year and the typical rent is $901. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Bradford County by the numbers
- What Bradford County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Bradford County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Bradford County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bradford County
- A Bradford County household budget, worked through
- Bradford County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Bradford County
- Who licenses lenders for Bradford County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Bradford County
- Frequently asked questions
Bradford County by the numbers
With an estimated 59,858 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bradford County ranks 42nd of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Packed into 1,147 square miles, that is close to 52 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Bradford County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 15 places in the county (14 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Sayre, with about 5,431 residents, or 9% of the county.
What Bradford County households earn
Half of Bradford County households take in less than $63,675 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Pennsylvania median of $77,971. In the state ranking that is 44th of 67.
| Band | Bradford County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.6% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.1% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -6.2 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 12.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). None of these numbers decides a Bradford County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Bradford County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 20%. Compared with Pennsylvania, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 11%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Bradford County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.4% | +9.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.2% | -6.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Bradford County
Renters in Bradford County pay a median of $901 a month, 25% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $187,500, about 2.9 times the median household income. 72% of Bradford County households own their home and 28% rent. Median construction year: 1969.
| Measure | Bradford County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $901/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $187,500 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.6% | 3.5% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bradford County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Sullivan County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Tioga County, is 39 miles off. Income ranges from $63,716 in Chemung County to $72,739 in Tioga County; all six of these neighbors top Bradford County's median. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford County | - | $63,675 | $901/mo | 72% |
| Sullivan County, PA | 24 mi | $69,764 | $775/mo | 85% |
| Chemung County, NY | 28 mi | $63,716 | $1,059/mo | 68% |
| Tioga County, NY | 29 mi | $72,739 | $928/mo | 79% |
| Wyoming County, PA | 31 mi | $72,460 | $943/mo | 78% |
| Susquehanna County, PA | 36 mi | $68,487 | $933/mo | 78% |
| Tioga County, PA | 39 mi | $64,899 | $863/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bradford County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Bradford County residents live in one of the 15. South Waverly has the highest median household income on the list ($87,813) and Canton the lowest ($42,132), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Bradford County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 15.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayre | borough | 5,431 | $50,801 | $968 | 13 mi |
| Athens | borough | 3,243 | $53,000 | $842 | 10 mi |
| Towanda | borough | 2,791 | $60,888 | $996 | 3 mi |
| Canton | borough | 1,531 | $42,132 | $715 | 20 mi |
| Troy | borough | 1,408 | $51,016 | $603 | 15 mi |
| South Waverly | borough | 1,069 | $87,813 | $1,022 | 14 mi |
| Wyalusing | borough | 653 | $43,636 | $900 | 15 mi |
| Monroe | borough | 621 | $53,947 | $854 | 6 mi |
| Greens Landing | CDP | 593 | $69,219 | $1,154 | 10 mi |
| Rome | borough | 547 | $55,000 | $942 | 9 mi |
| New Albany | borough | 358 | $77,273 | $939 | 13 mi |
| LeRaysville | borough | 293 | $83,292 | $1,264 | 17 mi |
| Sylvania | borough | 237 | $51,875 | $700 | 19 mi |
| Burlington | borough | 188 | $60,682 | $925 | 5 mi |
A Bradford County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bradford County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,306 a month: gross income for a household at the Bradford County median
- Rent at the median, $901, takes 17% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $956 a month
- $1,487: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Bradford County households compared
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. 6.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Bradford County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bradford County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Bradford County
Based on the Bradford County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who licenses lenders for Bradford County residents
Bradford County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bradford County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Bradford County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bradford County earn?
The median is $63,675; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Bradford County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $901 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Bradford County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Bradford County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Sayre, Athens, Towanda, Canton, Troy.
Can Bradford County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Pennsylvania county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.