1st Advantage MortgageCarbon County households have a median income of $67,554 and median rent of $994 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Pennsylvania license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Carbon County
- Household income in Carbon County
- Jobs and commutes in Carbon County
- Housing costs in Carbon County
- Carbon County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Carbon County
- What a median Carbon County budget can carry
- Reading the Carbon County data as a borrower
- More Carbon County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
- Before you sign
- More guides for Carbon County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Carbon County
Carbon County is home to about 65,382 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 38th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. Land area is 381 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 171 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Palmerton is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 5,622 people (9% of the county total).
Household income in Carbon County
At $67,554, the typical Carbon County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 30 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Carbon County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -5.7 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. 12.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.429 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Carbon County median.
Jobs and commutes in Carbon County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Construction stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Top industries | Carbon County share | +/- vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +2.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Housing costs in Carbon County
Renters in Carbon County pay a median of $994 a month, 18% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $211,400, a typical Carbon County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Carbon County households own their home and 24% rent. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Carbon County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $994/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,400 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Carbon County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Carbon County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 36 miles). Northampton County leads the group on income ($89,184), Luzerne County trails ($63,691), and Carbon County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | - | $67,554 | $994/mo | 76% |
| Monroe County, PA | 22 mi | $83,565 | $1,393/mo | 80% |
| Lehigh County, PA | 22 mi | $80,079 | $1,383/mo | 66% |
| Luzerne County, PA | 23 mi | $63,691 | $1,004/mo | 68% |
| Northampton County, PA | 24 mi | $89,184 | $1,395/mo | 71% |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 31 mi | $68,313 | $876/mo | 76% |
| Lackawanna County, PA | 36 mi | $66,223 | $1,007/mo | 65% |
The communities that make up Carbon County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 56% of Carbon County residents live in one of the 17. Incomes vary by place: $87,813 at the median in Tresckow, $44,713 in Lansford. Median rent ranges from $762 in Weissport East to $1,449 in Tresckow. None of the 17 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmerton | borough | 5,622 | $68,143 | $931 | 9 mi |
| Lehighton | borough | 5,268 | $64,651 | $1,019 | 6 mi |
| Jim Thorpe | borough | 4,540 | $72,904 | $908 | 6 mi |
| Lansford | borough | 4,156 | $44,713 | $922 | 11 mi |
| Nesquehoning | borough | 3,344 | $61,354 | $1,117 | 7 mi |
| Summit Hill | borough | 3,137 | $65,268 | $1,279 | 10 mi |
| Weatherly | borough | 2,551 | $52,125 | $923 | 6 mi |
| Towamensing Trails | CDP | 1,716 | $81,429 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Weissport East | CDP | 1,646 | $54,837 | $762 | 6 mi |
| Bowmanstown | borough | 968 | $68,365 | $1,005 | 8 mi |
| Holiday Pocono | CDP | 743 | $62,333 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Beaver Meadows | borough | 730 | $52,768 | $1,238 | 11 mi |
| Tresckow | CDP | 696 | $87,813 | $1,449 | 14 mi |
| Weissport | borough | 506 | $66,875 | $980 | 6 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Carbon County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Carbon County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Carbon County: $5,630
- Housing at the median rent of $994 uses 18%
- $1,033: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,427: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Carbon County's.
Reading the Carbon County data as a borrower
Where the Carbon County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 31% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Older households. A 46.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
More Carbon County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 5.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Carbon County | All of Pennsylvania | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.2% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Carbon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.9% |
| 60+ min | 12.7% |
Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
Before sharing details with a lender, a Carbon County resident can confirm its license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania personal loans.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carbon County:
- Price the Carbon County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Carbon County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Carbon County household make?
About $67,554 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the Pennsylvania median.
Is Carbon County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $994 against $1,209 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Carbon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Palmerton, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, Lansford, Nesquehoning and 12 more.
Does living in Carbon 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 Carbon County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Carbon County?
Start with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.