1st Advantage MortgageIn Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $63,953 a year and the typical rent is $822. 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
- Mifflin County by the numbers
- Household income in Mifflin County
- How Mifflin County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Mifflin County
- Mifflin County next to its neighbors
- Mifflin County towns compared
- Mifflin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Mifflin County
- Debt-to-income at Mifflin County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
- Checklist for Mifflin County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mifflin County by the numbers
Roughly 46,041 residents live in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, 47th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. It covers 411 square miles of land, or about 112 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mifflin County is not part of any metropolitan area. Lewistown is the biggest of its 26 Census places, at roughly 8,479 people (18% of the county total).
Household income in Mifflin County
The median household income in Mifflin County is $63,953; statewide it is $77,971, so Mifflin County runs 18% below Pennsylvania as a whole. Only 40 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Mifflin County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.8% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.9% | +10.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -8.9 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.2%, 5 points higher than the state's 11.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.398 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Mifflin 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.
How Mifflin County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Mifflin County residents work in education and health care and 21% in manufacturing. Compared with Pennsylvania, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Mifflin County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 79% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 10.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Mifflin County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.1% | +9.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Other services | 5.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.4% | -2.0 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 Mifflin County
A typical Mifflin County rental runs $822 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Pennsylvania. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $156,700, a typical Mifflin County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 71% of homes. The median home was built in 1960, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Mifflin County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $822/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,700 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.2% | 3.5% | n/a |
Mifflin County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 14 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Mifflin County; Perry County is highest at $79,444 and Blair County lowest at $62,382.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mifflin County | - | $63,953 | $822/mo | 71% |
| Juniata County, PA | 14 mi | $66,318 | $756/mo | 74% |
| Huntingdon County, PA | 21 mi | $65,557 | $810/mo | 79% |
| Centre County, PA | 24 mi | $74,291 | $1,207/mo | 62% |
| Perry County, PA | 25 mi | $79,444 | $874/mo | 82% |
| Snyder County, PA | 32 mi | $66,876 | $929/mo | 76% |
| Blair County, PA | 35 mi | $62,382 | $885/mo | 72% |
Mifflin County towns compared
26 Census places fall mainly inside Mifflin County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 23,484 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Reedsville has the highest median household income on the list ($124,432) and Lewistown the lowest ($40,236), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 26 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewistown | borough | 8,479 | $40,236 | $797 | 4 mi |
| Belleville | CDP | 1,951 | $65,677 | $744 | 4 mi |
| Burnham | borough | 1,744 | $67,656 | $776 | 5 mi |
| Church Hill | CDP | 1,673 | $78,500 | $978 | 7 mi |
| Milroy | CDP | 1,577 | $76,492 | $823 | 9 mi |
| Highland Park | CDP | 1,177 | $72,250 | $970 | 4 mi |
| Yeagertown | CDP | 1,165 | $62,341 | $806 | 5 mi |
| Reedsville | CDP | 872 | $124,432 | $774 | 5 mi |
| Strodes Mills | CDP | 836 | $88,333 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Juniata Terrace | borough | 528 | $52,500 | $938 | 4 mi |
| Granville | CDP | 395 | $75,710 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Allensville | CDP | 389 | $69,000 | $817 | 10 mi |
| McVeytown | borough | 363 | $69,205 | $756 | 9 mi |
| Mattawana | CDP | 334 | $79,583 | $886 | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Mifflin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
15% of Mifflin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Mifflin County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.4% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.1% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Mifflin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
Before borrowing in Mifflin County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Mifflin County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Debt-to-income at Mifflin County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Mifflin County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,329 a month: gross income for a household at the Mifflin County median
- Median rent: $822, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,043 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,576 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
Consumer lenders serving Mifflin 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. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Mifflin County applicants
A short checklist for Mifflin County borrowers:
- Price the Mifflin County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Pennsylvania license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mifflin County household make?
About $63,953 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% below the Pennsylvania median.
What do renters pay in Mifflin County?
$822 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Mifflin County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Mifflin County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Lewistown?
Yes, along with the other 25 Census places in Mifflin County, such as Belleville, Burnham, Church Hill.
Can Mifflin County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Pennsylvania county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.