1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lawrence County household earns $61,931, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Lawrence County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Lawrence County
- How much Lawrence County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Lawrence County
- Lawrence County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Lawrence County
- Budget math at the Lawrence County median
- Who lives in Lawrence County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
- Licensing and complaints for Lawrence County
- Checklist for Lawrence County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lawrence County by the numbers
Roughly 85,024 residents live in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, 33rd by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 357 square miles, that is close to 238 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area. Of the 19 Census places inside Lawrence County, New Castle leads by population with about 21,579; 11 of the 19 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Lawrence County
A typical Lawrence County rental runs $831 a month including utilities, which is 31% below Pennsylvania. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $147,200, a typical Lawrence County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes. The median home was built in 1957, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Lawrence County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $831/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,200 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 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). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How much Lawrence County households make
The median household income in Lawrence County is $61,931; statewide it is $77,971, so Lawrence County runs 21% below Pennsylvania as a whole. In the state ranking that is 52nd of 67.
| Yearly household income | Lawrence County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -6.7 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.9%, the same as the state's 11.7%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lawrence County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Lawrence County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Lawrence County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 11% for Pennsylvania. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.7% in Lawrence County. About 76% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Lawrence County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | -2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -3.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lawrence County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Lawrence County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 21 to 31 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $56,435 in Trumbull County to $89,843 in Butler County; 2 of these neighbors top Lawrence County's median. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $61,931 | $831/mo | 76% |
| Beaver County, PA | 21 mi | $71,089 | $890/mo | 75% |
| Mercer County, PA | 22 mi | $59,976 | $843/mo | 72% |
| Butler County, PA | 22 mi | $89,843 | $1,041/mo | 77% |
| Mahoning County, OH | 23 mi | $56,942 | $791/mo | 70% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 28 mi | $58,180 | $756/mo | 73% |
| Trumbull County, OH | 31 mi | $56,435 | $797/mo | 71% |
Towns and communities in Lawrence County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 19 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Lawrence County residents live in one of the 19. New Bedford has the highest median household income on the list ($90,000) and New Castle the lowest ($42,219), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $611 in Wampum to $1,034 in Oakland. No Lawrence County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 19.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle | city | 21,579 | $42,219 | $741 | 1 mi |
| Ellwood City | borough | 7,532 | $67,138 | $865 | 9 mi |
| New Wilmington | borough | 2,395 | $73,696 | $977 | 9 mi |
| Oakwood | CDP | 2,253 | $71,583 | $850 | 3 mi |
| New Beaver | borough | 1,343 | $61,417 | $700 | 8 mi |
| Oakland | CDP | 1,330 | $63,372 | $1,034 | 2 mi |
| New Castle Northwest | CDP | 1,223 | $72,500 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Frisco | CDP | 1,134 | $78,214 | $933 | 10 mi |
| Ellport | borough | 1,127 | $74,625 | $853 | 10 mi |
| West Pittsburg | CDP | 909 | $44,510 | $797 | 5 mi |
| Bessemer | borough | 881 | $65,893 | $869 | 8 mi |
| New Bedford | CDP | 813 | $90,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
| South New Castle | borough | 712 | $69,375 | $933 | 1 mi |
| Wampum | borough | 502 | $48,929 | $611 | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Lawrence County median
Here is the Lawrence County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,161 gross per month ($61,931 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $831, takes 16% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $975 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,491 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Lawrence County, in numbers
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lawrence County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lawrence County borrowers.
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Lawrence County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lawrence County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Licensing and complaints for Lawrence County
Lawrence County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Lawrence County applicants
A short checklist for Lawrence County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lawrence County a high-income county?
Its $61,931 median ranks 52nd of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Lawrence County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $831 against $1,209 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Lawrence County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Lawrence County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers New Castle, Ellwood City, New Wilmington, Oakwood, New Beaver and 14 more.
Is the fit check different in Lawrence County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.