1st Advantage MortgageNorthumberland County households have a median income of $60,583 and median rent of $806 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Northumberland County
- Household income in Northumberland County
- Employment and commuting in Northumberland County
- Northumberland County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- Towns and communities in Northumberland County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Northumberland County's medians
- Before borrowing in Northumberland County
- Northumberland County households compared
- Before you sign
- Pennsylvania rules that apply in Northumberland County
- More guides for Northumberland County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Northumberland County
Roughly 90,560 residents live in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 32nd by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 458 square miles, that is close to 198 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Northumberland County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 26 places in the county (13 incorporated, 13 census-designated); the largest is Sunbury, with about 9,617 residents, or 11% of the county.
Household income in Northumberland County
The median household income in Northumberland County is $60,583; statewide it is $77,971, so Northumberland County runs 22% below Pennsylvania as a whole. Only 55 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Northumberland County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -7.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Northumberland County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 12.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). For a borrower in Northumberland 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.
Employment and commuting in Northumberland County
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 11% for Pennsylvania. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Northumberland County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.1% | -5.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Northumberland County housing compared with Pennsylvania
A typical Northumberland County rental runs $806 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Pennsylvania. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,400, about 2.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 75%.
| Home costs | Northumberland County | Pennsylvania | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $806/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,400 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 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).
Towns and communities in Northumberland County
The table lists the 14 largest of 26 Census places in Northumberland County, by population. Together all 26 hold about 55,663 people, so roughly 39% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $39,690 in Shamokin to $121,511 in Elysburg. Rent is cheapest in Kapp Heights ($498) and steepest in Marion Heights ($1,156). This guide covers each of the 26 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbury | city | 9,617 | $51,028 | $738 | 4 mi |
| Shamokin | city | 6,853 | $39,690 | $824 | 9 mi |
| Milton | borough | 6,534 | $54,577 | $922 | 13 mi |
| Mount Carmel | borough | 5,677 | $53,021 | $742 | 16 mi |
| Northumberland | borough | 3,866 | $66,477 | $897 | 5 mi |
| Kulpmont | borough | 2,724 | $49,785 | $732 | 13 mi |
| Elysburg | CDP | 2,492 | $121,511 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Edgewood | CDP | 2,078 | $45,759 | $689 | 8 mi |
| Watsontown | borough | 2,005 | $60,051 | $877 | 18 mi |
| Riverside | borough | 1,806 | $83,750 | $998 | 8 mi |
| Trevorton | CDP | 1,775 | $59,167 | $697 | 5 mi |
| Fairview-Ferndale | CDP | 1,742 | $43,359 | $767 | 9 mi |
| Dewart | CDP | 1,247 | $79,542 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Marshallton | CDP | 1,187 | $52,411 | $773 | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 13 to 31 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Northumberland County; Montour County is highest at $76,976 and Columbia County lowest at $64,644.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland County | - | $60,583 | $806/mo | 75% |
| Montour County, PA | 13 mi | $76,976 | $1,142/mo | 68% |
| Union County, PA | 20 mi | $76,404 | $974/mo | 72% |
| Snyder County, PA | 20 mi | $66,876 | $929/mo | 76% |
| Columbia County, PA | 21 mi | $64,644 | $943/mo | 69% |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 28 mi | $68,313 | $876/mo | 76% |
| Dauphin County, PA | 31 mi | $76,242 | $1,217/mo | 63% |
Debt-to-income at Northumberland County's medians
How much room does a median Northumberland County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,049 a month: gross income for a household at the Northumberland County median
- Less median rent of $806, which is 16% of it
- $1,011: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $806, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Northumberland County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Northumberland County borrowers.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Northumberland County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Northumberland County | All of Pennsylvania | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.2% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Northumberland County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Pennsylvania license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Northumberland County credit union about member loans.
Pennsylvania rules that apply in Northumberland County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Northumberland County resident can confirm its license with 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.
More guides for Northumberland County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Northumberland County a high-income county?
Its $60,583 median ranks 56th of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Northumberland County?
$806 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Northumberland County?
By population: Sunbury, Shamokin, Milton, Mount Carmel, Northumberland. The county has 26 Census places in all.
Will a Northumberland County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Pennsylvania as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Northumberland County residents?
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Pennsylvania; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.