1st Advantage MortgagePike County households have a median income of $81,323 and median rent of $1,378 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Pike County at a glance
- The Pike County job picture
- Income in Pike County compared with Pennsylvania
- What it costs to live in Pike County
- Towns and communities in Pike County
- Counties near Pike County
- A Pike County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Pike County borrowers
- Who lives in Pike County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
- Before you sign
- More guides for Pike County
- Frequently asked questions
Pike County at a glance
Pike County is home to about 60,621 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 41st most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. Land area is 545 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 111 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pike County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 14 Census places inside Pike County, Saw Creek leads by population with about 4,422; 2 of the 14 are incorporated.
The Pike County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Pike County averages 7.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are common here: 39% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Pike County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pike County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Pike County compared with Pennsylvania
At $81,323, the typical Pike County household income is 24% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 12th of 67.
| Household income | Pike County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | -3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.6% | -1.2 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.8% of Pike 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 Pike County median.
What it costs to live in Pike County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,378 in Pike County versus $1,209 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 32% spend half or more. Home values center on $272,600, or 3.4 years of median income. 87% of Pike County households own their home and 13% rent.
| Pike County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,378/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $272,600 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 40% | 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). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Towns and communities in Pike County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Pike County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 27,819 people, so roughly 54% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $63,481 in Pocono Mountain Lake Estates to $118,814 in Pocono Woodland Lakes. Rent is cheapest in Birchwood Lakes ($1,244) and steepest in Saw Creek ($2,101). Live in one of these Pike County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saw Creek | CDP | 4,422 | $70,540 | $2,101 | 14 mi |
| Hemlock Farms | CDP | 3,392 | $79,980 | $1,629 | 1 mi |
| Pocono Woodland Lakes | CDP | 3,202 | $118,814 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Pine Ridge | CDP | 3,099 | $67,296 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Gold Key Lake | CDP | 2,563 | $99,125 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Matamoras | borough | 2,539 | $76,500 | $1,266 | 17 mi |
| Conashaugh Lakes | CDP | 1,538 | $94,219 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Birchwood Lakes | CDP | 1,399 | $67,500 | $1,244 | 8 mi |
| Milford | borough | 1,198 | $74,844 | $1,481 | 12 mi |
| Pocono Ranch Lands | CDP | 1,187 | $73,508 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Sunrise Lake | CDP | 1,126 | $72,143 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Fawn Lake Forest | CDP | 765 | $88,083 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Pocono Mountain Lake Estates | CDP | 700 | $63,481 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Masthope | CDP | 689 | $100,394 | n/a | 13 mi |
Counties near Pike County
Sussex County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Warren County, is 33 miles off. Income ranges from $62,381 in Wayne County to $116,186 in Sussex County; 3 of these neighbors top Pike County's median. The list crosses into New Jersey, New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | - | $81,323 | $1,378/mo | 87% |
| Sussex County, NJ | 22 mi | $116,186 | $1,585/mo | 84% |
| Monroe County, PA | 24 mi | $83,565 | $1,393/mo | 80% |
| Wayne County, PA | 26 mi | $62,381 | $1,038/mo | 81% |
| Sullivan County, NY | 30 mi | $72,382 | $1,106/mo | 67% |
| Lackawanna County, PA | 31 mi | $66,223 | $1,007/mo | 65% |
| Warren County, NJ | 33 mi | $100,869 | $1,409/mo | 75% |
A Pike County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pike County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Pike County: $6,777
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,378)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,536 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Pike County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Pike County borrowers
Based on the Pike County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 39% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Pike County budgets.
- Fixed incomes. Pike County's median age is 49.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who lives in Pike County, in numbers
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| People and households | Pike County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.7% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.3% |
| 60+ min | 25.3% |
Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
Before sharing details with a lender, a Pike County resident can confirm its license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania personal loans.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Pike County:
- Price the Pike County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Pike County
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Pike County earn?
The median is $81,323; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Pike County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,378 against $1,209 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Pike County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 87% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Pike County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Saw Creek, Hemlock Farms, Pocono Woodland Lakes, Pine Ridge, Gold Key Lake and 9 more.
Is the fit check different in Pike County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.