1st Advantage MortgageIn Crawford County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $60,476 a year and the typical rent is $802. 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
- Crawford County at a glance
- Income in Crawford County compared with Pennsylvania
- Jobs and commutes in Crawford County
- Housing costs in Crawford County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Crawford County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Crawford County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Crawford County borrowers
- Crawford County households compared
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Crawford County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Crawford County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Crawford County's population at 82,716; only 34 of Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,012 square miles of land, or about 82 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 31 places in the county (16 incorporated, 15 census-designated); the largest is Meadville, with about 12,577 residents, or 15% of the county.
Income in Crawford County compared with Pennsylvania
At $60,476, the typical Crawford County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Crawford County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.3% | +6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.9% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -7.9 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 14.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). For a borrower in Crawford County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Crawford 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%). The survey's unemployment rate for Crawford County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Crawford County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.4% | +9.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -4.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Crawford County
A typical Crawford County rental runs $802 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Pennsylvania. By the Census definition, 45% of Crawford County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,200, about 2.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 75%. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Crawford County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $802/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,200 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.9% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | 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).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Crawford County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 31 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 41% of Crawford County residents live in one of the 31. Incomes vary by place: $69,375 at the median in Saegertown, $37,917 in Conneaut Lake. No Crawford County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 31.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadville | city | 12,577 | $43,308 | $855 | 3 mi |
| Titusville | city | 5,189 | $38,194 | $662 | 23 mi |
| Pymatuning Central | CDP | 2,593 | $64,479 | $744 | 20 mi |
| Cambridge Springs | borough | 2,408 | $54,400 | $659 | 8 mi |
| Conneaut Lakeshore | CDP | 1,886 | $66,094 | $834 | 12 mi |
| Linesville | borough | 1,132 | $54,000 | $808 | 16 mi |
| Cochranton | borough | 1,084 | $59,375 | $726 | 12 mi |
| Saegertown | borough | 828 | $69,375 | $800 | 2 mi |
| Conneautville | borough | 748 | $54,375 | $957 | 14 mi |
| Fredericksburg | CDP | 673 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Conneaut Lake | borough | 526 | $37,917 | $752 | 12 mi |
| Hydetown | borough | 505 | $54,464 | $770 | 20 mi |
| Springboro | borough | 425 | $51,250 | $868 | 16 mi |
| Blooming Valley | borough | 390 | $63,750 | $688 | 4 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Venango County is closest, 27 miles from center to center; the sixth, Trumbull County, is 43 miles off. Erie County leads the group on income ($63,354), Trumbull County trails ($56,435), and Crawford County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Ohio. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Crawford County resident follows Pennsylvania rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | - | $60,476 | $802/mo | 75% |
| Venango County, PA | 27 mi | $61,522 | $795/mo | 75% |
| Mercer County, PA | 28 mi | $59,976 | $843/mo | 72% |
| Erie County, PA | 30 mi | $63,354 | $904/mo | 68% |
| Ashtabula County, OH | 36 mi | $57,728 | $828/mo | 76% |
| Warren County, PA | 43 mi | $60,480 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Trumbull County, OH | 43 mi | $56,435 | $797/mo | 71% |
A Crawford County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Crawford County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,040 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($802)
- At 35%, room after rent is $962 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,466 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Crawford County's.
What the numbers mean for Crawford County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Crawford County borrowers.
- Rent squeeze. 45% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Consolidating cards in Crawford County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Crawford County borrower sees (free reports).
Crawford County households compared
21% of Crawford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Crawford County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.5% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Crawford County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Crawford County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Crawford County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Crawford County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Crawford County?
$60,476 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,971 for Pennsylvania. It ranks 58th of 67 in the state.
How much is rent in Crawford County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $802 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Crawford County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Crawford County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Crawford County?
By population: Meadville, Titusville, Pymatuning Central, Cambridge Springs, Conneaut Lakeshore. The county has 31 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Crawford County or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the same rules apply.