1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Montgomery County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $113,915. 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
- Montgomery County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Montgomery County
- What Montgomery County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Montgomery County
- Places inside Montgomery County
- The counties around Montgomery County
- What a median Montgomery County budget can carry
- Who lives in Montgomery County, in numbers
- Reading the Montgomery County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Montgomery County residents
- A Montgomery County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Montgomery County at a glance
Roughly 867,573 residents live in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 3rd by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. It covers 483 square miles of land, or about 1,796 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area. Norristown is the biggest of its 62 Census places, at roughly 35,893 people (4% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Montgomery County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,683 in Montgomery County versus $1,209 statewide. By the Census definition, 49% of Montgomery County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $436,700, about 3.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Montgomery County | Pennsylvania figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,683/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $436,700 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 9% | n/a |
What Montgomery County households earn
Montgomery County households have a median income of $113,915 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 67 in Pennsylvania.
| Yearly household income | Montgomery County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.4% | -8.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.6% | -8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.8% | +4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 24.3% | +12.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 56% of Montgomery County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. Census counts 6.5% of Montgomery County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Montgomery County median.
Employment and commuting in Montgomery County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 15% locally and 11% for Pennsylvania. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Montgomery County. Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Montgomery County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.4% | +4.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.9% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Montgomery County
62 Census places fall mainly inside Montgomery County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 419,155 residents, leaving about 52% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Merion Station, $60,828 in Pottstown. This guide covers each of the 62 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norristown | borough | 35,893 | $66,701 | $1,422 | 6 mi |
| King of Prussia | CDP | 25,857 | $117,912 | $2,077 | 8 mi |
| Pottstown | borough | 23,476 | $60,828 | $1,260 | 15 mi |
| Lansdale | borough | 19,011 | $88,229 | $1,470 | 5 mi |
| Horsham | CDP | 16,005 | $94,987 | $1,446 | 12 mi |
| Willow Grove | CDP | 14,131 | $98,064 | $1,765 | 14 mi |
| Montgomeryville | CDP | 13,388 | $131,345 | $1,993 | 7 mi |
| Roslyn | CDP | 10,639 | $99,318 | $1,306 | 13 mi |
| Bala Cynwyd | CDP | 10,227 | $150,000 | $1,886 | 16 mi |
| Conshohocken | borough | 9,282 | $122,721 | $2,147 | 10 mi |
| Audubon | CDP | 9,229 | $111,234 | $1,890 | 6 mi |
| Harleysville | CDP | 9,090 | $106,735 | $1,772 | 5 mi |
| Sanatoga | CDP | 8,949 | $86,746 | $1,607 | 12 mi |
| Kulpsville | CDP | 8,799 | $92,721 | $1,933 | 3 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Montgomery County
Bucks County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Berks County, is 33 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Montgomery County; Chester County is highest at $127,208 and Philadelphia County lowest at $61,953.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | - | $113,915 | $1,683/mo | 71% |
| Bucks County, PA | 16 mi | $114,764 | $1,605/mo | 78% |
| Philadelphia County, PA | 19 mi | $61,953 | $1,397/mo | 52% |
| Delaware County, PA | 20 mi | $89,546 | $1,372/mo | 70% |
| Chester County, PA | 26 mi | $127,208 | $1,763/mo | 75% |
| Lehigh County, PA | 30 mi | $80,079 | $1,383/mo | 66% |
| Berks County, PA | 33 mi | $79,777 | $1,181/mo | 71% |
What a median Montgomery County budget can carry
Here is the Montgomery County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $9,493 gross per month ($113,915 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,683, takes 18% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,734 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $2,399: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Montgomery County, in numbers
Degree holders: 53% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Residents | Montgomery County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 53.0% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Montgomery County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Reading the Montgomery County data as a borrower
Based on the Montgomery County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Montgomery County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Consolidation math. With 56% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Montgomery County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who licenses lenders for Montgomery County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Montgomery County, check 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.
A Montgomery County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Montgomery County household make?
About $113,915 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 46% above the Pennsylvania median.
How much is rent in Montgomery County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,683 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Norristown?
Yes, along with the other 61 Census places in Montgomery County, such as King of Prussia, Pottstown, Lansdale.
Can Montgomery 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Montgomery County?
Start with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.