1st Advantage MortgageIn Clarion County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $62,649 a year and the typical rent is $798. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Clarion County, and confirm each one's Pennsylvania license.
On this page
- Who lives in Clarion County
- Work, industries and travel time in Clarion County
- The Clarion County housing market in figures
- Paychecks and income spread in Clarion County
- How Clarion County ranks in Pennsylvania
- Clarion County towns compared
- Counties near Clarion County
- What a median Clarion County budget can carry
- Clarion County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Clarion County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Clarion County residents
- A Clarion County borrower's checklist
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Clarion County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clarion County's population at 37,179; only 56 of Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 601 square miles of land, or about 62 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Clarion County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Largest place: Clarion, about 4,192 residents (11% of Clarion County); 17 Census places in all.
Work, industries and travel time in Clarion County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Clarion County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 29% locally and 27% for Pennsylvania. 5.1% of Clarion County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Top industries | Clarion County share | +/- vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.0% | -5.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clarion County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The Clarion County housing market in figures
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $798 in Clarion County versus $1,209 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. With a median value of $155,700, a typical Clarion County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 72%, renters 28%. The median home was built in 1967, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, Clarion County rent is 9% below.
| Measure | Clarion County | Pennsylvania | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | +11.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 24% | -7.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 3.5% | +6.8 pts |
| Median home value | $155,700 | $254,500 | 39% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | -3.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $798/mo | $1,209/mo | 34% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | +3.2 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Clarion 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Clarion County
$62,649 is the median household income for Clarion County, set against $77,971 for Pennsylvania. That places it 47th among Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Clarion County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.3% | +5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -7.3 pts |
27% under $35,000 and 27% at $100,000 or more: that is the Clarion County income split. Poverty rate, Clarion County: 13.1%; Pennsylvania: 11.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.429 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Clarion County ranks in Pennsylvania
The 2 Clarion County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Pennsylvania, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Pennsylvania counties match Clarion County on population: 37,179 here, 13,018,639 for the state, ranking 11th lowest of 67. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
- The share of mobile homes: 10.3% in Clarion County. Only 13 of 67 Pennsylvania counties are higher. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
Clarion County towns compared
13,069 of Clarion County's 37,179 residents live in its 17 Census places (35%); the 14 largest are listed. Knox ($69,000) and Hawthorn ($46,932) mark the top and bottom of Clarion County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in East Brady ($662) and steepest in Marianne ($921). None of the 17 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarion | borough | 4,192 | $47,181 | $840 | 2 mi |
| Marianne | CDP | 1,135 | $57,130 | $921 | 3 mi |
| Rimersburg | borough | 1,100 | $60,294 | $717 | 12 mi |
| Knox | borough | 1,082 | $69,000 | $846 | 7 mi |
| East Brady | borough | 1,041 | $66,250 | $662 | 18 mi |
| New Bethlehem | borough | 957 | $50,000 | $667 | 14 mi |
| Sligo | borough | 731 | $52,679 | $770 | 7 mi |
| Strattanville | borough | 598 | $56,336 | $808 | 5 mi |
| Shippenville | borough | 520 | $48,000 | $911 | 4 mi |
| Hawthorn | borough | 501 | $46,932 | $715 | 14 mi |
| Foxburg | borough | 277 | $81,250 | $731 | 14 mi |
| St. Petersburg | borough | 267 | $70,750 | $875 | 12 mi |
| Leeper | CDP | 178 | $87,353 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Crown | CDP | 145 | $58,295 | n/a | 16 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Clarion County
Distances run center to center, from Jefferson County at 22 miles out to Indiana County at 42. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Clarion County; Butler County is highest at $89,843 and Forest County lowest at $52,191.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarion County | - | $62,649 | $798/mo | 72% |
| Jefferson County, PA | 22 mi | $58,686 | $750/mo | 75% |
| Venango County, PA | 23 mi | $61,522 | $795/mo | 75% |
| Forest County, PA | 24 mi | $52,191 | $817/mo | 78% |
| Armstrong County, PA | 27 mi | $65,008 | $785/mo | 79% |
| Butler County, PA | 33 mi | $89,843 | $1,041/mo | 77% |
| Indiana County, PA | 42 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 72% |
What a median Clarion County budget can carry
Here is the Clarion County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Clarion County: $5,221
- Housing at the median rent of $798 uses 15%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,029 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,551 a month
A household below the $62,649 median has less room than this, often none.
Clarion County households compared
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24% of Clarion County adults. Uninsured, Clarion County: 6.1%; Pennsylvania: 5.6%.
| Measure | Clarion County | Gap to Pennsylvania | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | +0.8 yrs | +0.2 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.6% | -11.6 pts | +1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | +0.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | +0.4 pts | -1.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | -3.9 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Work from home | 8.6% | -7.0 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | +1.4 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | -0.2 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
What the numbers mean for Clarion County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Clarion County borrowers.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Who licenses lenders for Clarion County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Clarion County resident can confirm its license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a Clarion County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Clarion County borrowers is in the Pennsylvania guide.
A Clarion County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Clarion County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Keep exploring
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clarion County household make?
About $62,649 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Pennsylvania median.
Can a Clarion County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $798 median rent and $5,221 median monthly income, rent alone uses 15%; add other debts before a new payment.
Can Clarion County owners borrow against a $155,700 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
Which towns does the Clarion County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 17 Census places: Clarion, Marianne, Rimersburg, Knox, East Brady.
Does living in Clarion 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 Clarion County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.