1st Advantage MortgageCameron County households have a median income of $50,573 and median rent of $689 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- 4,427 residents: Cameron County basics
- Cameron County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- Income in Cameron County compared with Pennsylvania
- Cameron County against other Pennsylvania counties
- How Cameron County residents earn a living
- Cameron County towns compared
- How Cameron County compares with nearby counties
- Cameron County demographics against Pennsylvania
- Before borrowing in Cameron County
- Debt-to-income, Cameron County edition
- Four steps for Cameron County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Cameron County
- Other Pennsylvania guides
- Frequently asked questions
4,427 residents: Cameron County basics
Roughly 4,427 residents live in Cameron County, Pennsylvania, 67th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Its 396 square miles average 11 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro status: none; Cameron County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Emporium (1,975 people) heads the county's list of 3 Census places, 2 incorporated and 1 census-designated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Cameron County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Cameron County housing compared with Pennsylvania
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $689 in Cameron County versus $1,209 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $88,900, about 1.8 times the median household income. In Cameron County, 72% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1959.
| Cameron County | Pennsylvania | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 43% | 9% | +34.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 11.6% | 3.5% | +8.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | -7.0 pts |
| Median home value | $88,900 | $254,500 | 65% lower |
| Median gross rent | $689/mo | $1,209/mo | 43% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | +3.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 24% | +0.3 pts |
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).
Income in Cameron County compared with Pennsylvania
Cameron County households have a median income of $50,573 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 67th of 67 in Pennsylvania.
| Income band | Share in Cameron County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.5% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +7.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -10.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -9.5 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Cameron County: 13.5%; Pennsylvania: 11.7%. Gini index for Cameron County: 0.419. A household earning below the $50,573 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Cameron County against other Pennsylvania counties
Out of every Pennsylvania county, Cameron County is most unusual on these measures.
- On population, Cameron County sits near the bottom of Pennsylvania at 4,427, the lowest of 67. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
- On the uninsured rate, Cameron County sits near the bottom of Pennsylvania at 2.1%, the lowest of 67. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
- Cameron County ranks the lowest of 67 Pennsylvania counties for the share of workers who work from home: 1.8%, against 15.6% statewide. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- Few Pennsylvania counties match Cameron County on median home value: $88,900 here, $254,500 for the state, ranking the lowest of 67. Lower values mean less equity to tap, so unsecured loans are the usual route.
How Cameron County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Cameron County residents work in manufacturing and 18% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 31% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.8% in Cameron County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 14%; under 15 minutes: 60%. 10.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cameron County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 31.0% | +19.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.4% | -8.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Other services | 5.0% | +0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cameron County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Cameron County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 2,308 residents, leaving about 48% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Cameron County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporium | borough | 1,975 | $42,500 | $678 | 5 mi |
| Prospect Park | CDP | 288 | $49,583 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Driftwood | borough | 45 | $30,500 | n/a | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How Cameron County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cameron County's, from 24 to 41 miles away. Income ranges from $59,020 in Potter County to $74,291 in Centre County; all six of these neighbors top Cameron County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron County | - | $50,573 | $689/mo | 72% |
| Elk County, PA | 24 mi | $66,380 | $719/mo | 80% |
| Potter County, PA | 27 mi | $59,020 | $809/mo | 80% |
| McKean County, PA | 32 mi | $62,905 | $809/mo | 78% |
| Clinton County, PA | 33 mi | $60,816 | $820/mo | 72% |
| Clearfield County, PA | 33 mi | $62,152 | $791/mo | 79% |
| Centre County, PA | 41 mi | $74,291 | $1,207/mo | 62% |
Cameron County demographics against Pennsylvania
13% of Cameron County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 2.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Cameron County | +/- Pennsylvania | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.6% | -22.6 pts | -9.6 pts |
| Work from home | 1.8% | -13.8 pts | -6.8 pts |
| Median age | 53.0 | +12.1 yrs | +11.5 yrs |
| No health insurance | 2.1% | -3.5 pts | -5.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.8% | +2.5 pts | +3.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | +1.8 pts | +0.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | -0.5 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 10.2% | -0.2 pts | +4.8 pts |
| Commute length | Cameron County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Before borrowing in Cameron County
Where the Cameron County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Age 53.0 at the median. Many Cameron County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Debt-to-income, Cameron County edition
Cameron County's $50,573 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $4,214 gross per month ($50,573 / 12)
- 16% goes to median rent ($689)
- At 36%, room after rent is $828 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,123 a month
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Cameron County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Four steps for Cameron County borrowers
Quick steps for Cameron County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Pennsylvania borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Cameron County
Consumer lenders serving Cameron County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Pennsylvania that is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a Cameron County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The Pennsylvania page has statewide figures to set beside Cameron County's.
Other Pennsylvania guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cameron County a high-income county?
Its $50,573 median ranks 67th of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What is the median rent in Cameron County, PA?
$689 a month, utilities included, or $8,268 a year.
How many towns are in Cameron County?
The Census Bureau counts 3 places mainly in the county, led by Emporium, Prospect Park, Driftwood.
Does living in Cameron 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 Cameron County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Cameron County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Pennsylvania it is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.