1st Advantage MortgageThe median McKean County household earns $62,905, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- McKean County at a glance
- How McKean County residents earn a living
- How much McKean County households make
- What it costs to live in McKean County
- McKean County towns compared
- How McKean County compares with nearby counties
- A McKean County household budget, worked through
- More McKean County figures
- Borrowing situations common in McKean County
- Before you sign
- Pennsylvania rules that apply in McKean County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
McKean County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts McKean County's population at 39,904; only 51 of Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 980 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 41 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Bradford is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 7,683 people (19% of the county total).
How McKean County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed McKean County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. Compared with Pennsylvania, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in McKean County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.7% of the total (10.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | McKean County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.5% | +3.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.5% | +9.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.6% | -5.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much McKean County households make
At $62,905, the typical McKean County household income is 4% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 46th among Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas.
| Household income | McKean County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +9.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -7.5 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 13.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.426 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in McKean 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.
What it costs to live in McKean County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $809 in McKean County versus $1,209 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. With a median value of $104,500, a typical McKean County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Measure | McKean County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $809/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,500 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% | 3.5% | 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).
McKean County towns compared
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in McKean County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 18,964 people, so roughly 52% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,063 in Eldred to $98,049 in Foster Brook. Median rent ranges from $531 in Eldred to $933 in Lewis Run. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford | city | 7,683 | $56,161 | $800 | 11 mi |
| Kane | borough | 3,537 | $52,353 | $841 | 16 mi |
| Port Allegany | borough | 2,356 | $65,595 | $827 | 15 mi |
| Smethport | borough | 1,462 | $60,455 | $762 | 7 mi |
| University of Pittsburgh Bradford | CDP | 974 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Foster Brook | CDP | 942 | $98,049 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mount Jewett | borough | 674 | $53,125 | $650 | 7 mi |
| Lewis Run | borough | 570 | $73,523 | $933 | 6 mi |
| Eldred | borough | 566 | $49,063 | $531 | 14 mi |
| Rew | CDP | 200 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
How McKean County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 41 miles). Elk County leads the group on income ($66,380), Cameron County trails ($50,573), and McKean County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in New York. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a McKean County resident follows Pennsylvania rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKean County | - | $62,905 | $809/mo | 78% |
| Elk County, PA | 27 mi | $66,380 | $719/mo | 80% |
| Cattaraugus County, NY | 30 mi | $59,540 | $770/mo | 75% |
| Cameron County, PA | 32 mi | $50,573 | $689/mo | 72% |
| Potter County, PA | 35 mi | $59,020 | $809/mo | 80% |
| Warren County, PA | 37 mi | $60,480 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Forest County, PA | 41 mi | $52,191 | $817/mo | 78% |
A McKean County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median McKean County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,242 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($809)
- $1,026: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,550 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More McKean County figures
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| McKean County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Borrowing situations common in McKean County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for McKean County borrowers.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for McKean County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in McKean County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Pennsylvania rules that apply in McKean County
Consumer lenders serving McKean County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Pennsylvania that is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
Related local guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in McKean County earn?
The median is $62,905; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is McKean County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $809 against $1,209 statewide, and 42% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in McKean County?
By population: Bradford, Kane, Port Allegany, Smethport, University of Pittsburgh Bradford. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does living in McKean 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 McKean County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in McKean County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.