1st Advantage MortgageThe median Schuylkill County household earns $68,313, and 13% 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
- Who lives in Schuylkill County
- Income in Schuylkill County compared with Pennsylvania
- Schuylkill County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- The Schuylkill County job picture
- Towns and communities in Schuylkill County
- How Schuylkill County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Schuylkill County
- What the numbers mean for Schuylkill County borrowers
- Who lives in Schuylkill County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Schuylkill County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County is home to about 143,558 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 25th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. Packed into 779 square miles, that is close to 184 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 71 Census places inside Schuylkill County, Pottsville leads by population with about 13,364; 31 of the 71 are incorporated.
Income in Schuylkill County compared with Pennsylvania
Half of Schuylkill County households take in less than $68,313 a year and half take in more, 12% below the Pennsylvania median of $77,971. Only 28 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Band | Schuylkill County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Schuylkill County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.8%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.7%. None of these numbers decides a Schuylkill County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Schuylkill County housing compared with Pennsylvania
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $876 in Schuylkill County versus $1,209 statewide. By the Census definition, 42% of Schuylkill County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,000, about 2.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Cost | Schuylkill County | Pennsylvania figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $876/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,000 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.4% | 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).
The Schuylkill County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 11% for Pennsylvania. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 8.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Schuylkill County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.1% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -4.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Schuylkill County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 71 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Schuylkill County residents live in one of the 71. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,727 in Mahanoy City to $110,461 in Renningers. Median rent ranges from $430 in Gilberton to $1,080 in Friedensburg. No Schuylkill County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 71.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pottsville | city | 13,364 | $54,332 | $822 | 2 mi |
| Tamaqua | borough | 6,924 | $46,176 | $996 | 17 mi |
| Schuylkill Haven | borough | 5,253 | $54,167 | $904 | 6 mi |
| Minersville | borough | 4,396 | $53,416 | $782 | 2 mi |
| Shenandoah | borough | 4,146 | $45,294 | $982 | 8 mi |
| Frackville | borough | 3,878 | $56,866 | $815 | 6 mi |
| Mahanoy City | borough | 3,507 | $37,727 | $910 | 9 mi |
| Lake Wynonah | CDP | 3,036 | $98,639 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Orwigsburg | borough | 3,005 | $84,063 | $685 | 7 mi |
| St. Clair | borough | 2,754 | $64,304 | $1,064 | 2 mi |
| Coaldale | borough | 2,514 | $59,250 | $843 | 18 mi |
| McAdoo | borough | 2,501 | $45,753 | $986 | 18 mi |
| Ashland | borough | 2,324 | $52,708 | $764 | 9 mi |
| Pine Grove | borough | 2,118 | $64,082 | $793 | 14 mi |
How Schuylkill County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 25 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Schuylkill County; Berks County is highest at $79,777 and Northumberland County lowest at $60,583.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schuylkill County | - | $68,313 | $876/mo | 76% |
| Berks County, PA | 25 mi | $79,777 | $1,181/mo | 71% |
| Columbia County, PA | 26 mi | $64,644 | $943/mo | 69% |
| Lebanon County, PA | 26 mi | $78,425 | $1,110/mo | 71% |
| Northumberland County, PA | 28 mi | $60,583 | $806/mo | 75% |
| Carbon County, PA | 31 mi | $67,554 | $994/mo | 76% |
| Montour County, PA | 32 mi | $76,976 | $1,142/mo | 68% |
Room for a loan payment in Schuylkill County
Here is the Schuylkill County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $68,313 a year is $5,693 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $876, takes 15% of that
- $1,173: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Schuylkill County borrowers
Based on the Schuylkill County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 20% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Schuylkill County budgets.
- Consolidating cards in Schuylkill County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Who lives in Schuylkill County, in numbers
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. 6.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Schuylkill County | All of Pennsylvania | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Schuylkill County:
- Price the Schuylkill County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Schuylkill County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Schuylkill County resident can confirm its license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania personal loans.
Related local guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Schuylkill County?
$68,313 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,971 for Pennsylvania. It ranks 29th of 67 in the state.
What do renters pay in Schuylkill County?
$876 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Schuylkill County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Schuylkill County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Schuylkill County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pottsville, Tamaqua, Schuylkill Haven, Minersville, Shenandoah and 66 more.
Is the fit check different in Schuylkill County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.