1st Advantage Mortgage31% of Juniata County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $66,318 (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Juniata County, and confirm each one's Pennsylvania license.
On this page
- 23,379 residents: Juniata County basics
- Juniata County income bands
- Jobs and commutes in Juniata County
- Renting and owning in Juniata County
- Juniata County against other Pennsylvania counties
- McAlisterville and the rest of Juniata County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Juniata County's medians
- Before borrowing in Juniata County
- More Juniata County figures
- Steps before you apply in Juniata County
- Licensing and complaints for Juniata County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
23,379 residents: Juniata County basics
With an estimated 23,379 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Juniata County ranks 61st of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Land area is 391 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 60 per square mile. Juniata County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (4 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is McAlisterville, with about 929 residents, or 4% of the county.
Juniata County income bands
Juniata County households have a median income of $66,318 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 34th of 67 in Pennsylvania.
| Household income | Juniata County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.0% | +9.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -6.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Juniata County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.7% of Juniata County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. A household earning below the $66,318 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Juniata County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Juniata County residents work in manufacturing and 17% in education and health care. Relative to Pennsylvania (11%), manufacturing is 8 points bigger in Juniata County (20%). Unemployment in Juniata County, ACS five-year: 2.1%; Pennsylvania: 5.3%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 29%; under 15 minutes: 31%. No car: 6.9% of Juniata County households.
| Industry | Share of Juniata County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19.8% | +8.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.0% | -9.7 pts |
| Construction | 11.2% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.7% | +5.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Juniata County
$756 a month is the median gross rent in Juniata County, 37% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 26% of renter households here. Home values center on $217,000, or 3.3 years of median income. In Juniata County, 74% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1973.
| Home costs | Juniata County | Pennsylvania | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 48% | -22.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 24% | -5.1 pts |
| Owners | 74% | 69% | +4.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $756/mo | $1,209/mo | 37% lower |
| Median home value | $217,000 | $254,500 | 15% lower |
At a $217,000 median value, many Juniata County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Juniata County against other Pennsylvania counties
Ranked against the other 66 county-level areas in Pennsylvania, these are the Juniata County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the uninsured rate, Juniata County sits near the top of Pennsylvania at 13.8%, the highest of 67. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 26% in Juniata County, the lowest of 67 in Pennsylvania. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- Few Pennsylvania counties match Juniata County on the ACS unemployment rate: 2.1% here, 5.3% for the state, ranking the lowest of 67. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
McAlisterville and the rest of Juniata County
Places, by size: the top 8 of 8. Roughly 82% of Juniata County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,042 in Thompsontown to $68,125 in Port Royal. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAlisterville | CDP | 929 | $65,893 | $574 | 10 mi |
| Mifflintown | borough | 914 | $51,750 | $772 | 3 mi |
| Port Royal | borough | 740 | $68,125 | $671 | 1 mi |
| Thompsontown | borough | 515 | $41,042 | $709 | 9 mi |
| Mexico | CDP | 470 | $81,635 | $1,342 | 2 mi |
| Mifflin | borough | 395 | $51,058 | $883 | 3 mi |
| East Waterford | CDP | 116 | $70,625 | n/a | 15 mi |
| East Salem | CDP | 115 | $70,917 | $1,042 | 10 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Perry County at 12 miles out to Dauphin County at 33. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Juniata County; Cumberland County is highest at $87,494 and Mifflin County lowest at $63,953.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juniata County | - | $66,318 | $756/mo | 74% |
| Perry County, PA | 12 mi | $79,444 | $874/mo | 82% |
| Mifflin County, PA | 14 mi | $63,953 | $822/mo | 71% |
| Snyder County, PA | 23 mi | $66,876 | $929/mo | 76% |
| Cumberland County, PA | 26 mi | $87,494 | $1,249/mo | 71% |
| Huntingdon County, PA | 31 mi | $65,557 | $810/mo | 79% |
| Dauphin County, PA | 33 mi | $76,242 | $1,217/mo | 63% |
Debt-to-income at Juniata County's medians
Juniata County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,526 gross per month ($66,318 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $756, takes 14% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,620 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Juniata County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Before borrowing in Juniata County
Juniata County-specific points to check:
- Hospital bills in Juniata County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Car trouble. For Juniata County drivers (29% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Consolidating cards in Juniata County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Juniata County figures
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 13.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Juniata County | Difference from Pennsylvania | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | -20.2 pts | -7.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 16.2% | +8.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.8% | +8.1 pts | +5.9 pts |
| Work from home | 9.5% | -6.1 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | -3.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | -3.1 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Median age | 43.3 | +2.4 yrs | +1.8 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | -2.0 pts | -3.5 pts |
| Minutes to work | Juniata County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 18.3% |
Steps before you apply in Juniata County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Juniata County
Consumer lenders serving Juniata County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Pennsylvania that is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide picture.
Keep exploring
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Juniata County earn?
The median is $66,318; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Juniata County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $756 a month; 26% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Juniata County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover McAlisterville?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Juniata County, such as Mifflintown, Port Royal, Thompsontown.
Is the fit check different in Juniata County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.