1st Advantage MortgageIn Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $69,764 a year and the typical rent is $775. 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
- Who lives in Sullivan County
- Sullivan County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- Household income in Sullivan County
- Employment and commuting in Sullivan County
- Places inside Sullivan County
- Sullivan County next to its neighbors
- What a median Sullivan County budget can carry
- Who lives in Sullivan County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Sullivan County
- Lender oversight for Sullivan County
- Four steps for Sullivan County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Sullivan County
Sullivan County is home to about 5,888 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 66th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. Land area is 450 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 13 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sullivan County is not part of any metropolitan area. Dushore is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 459 people (8% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Sullivan County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Sullivan County housing compared with Pennsylvania
A typical Sullivan County rental runs $775 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Pennsylvania. By the Census definition, 35% of Sullivan County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $197,100, about 2.8 times the median household income. 85% of Sullivan County households own their home and 15% rent. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Sullivan County | Pennsylvania | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $775/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $197,100 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.2% | 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).
Household income in Sullivan County
The median household income in Sullivan County is $69,764; statewide it is $77,971, so Sullivan County runs 11% below Pennsylvania as a whole. In the state ranking that is 27th of 67.
| Income band | Share in Sullivan County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.4% | -4.4 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.6% of Sullivan County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.439 here. A household earning below the $69,764 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Sullivan County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Compared with Pennsylvania, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.8% in Sullivan County. About 80% drive to work alone and 29% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Sullivan County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -6.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.7% | +6.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -4.1 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 Sullivan County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Sullivan County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 964 people, so roughly 84% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dushore | borough | 459 | $51,875 | $682 | 8 mi |
| Laporte | borough | 272 | $57,250 | $1,000 | 2 mi |
| Forksville | borough | 134 | $58,438 | $594 | 6 mi |
| Eagles Mere | borough | 99 | $104,375 | n/a | 4 mi |
Sullivan County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Bradford County at 24 miles out to Luzerne County at 33. Income ranges from $63,675 in Bradford County to $76,976 in Montour County; 2 of these neighbors top Sullivan County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | - | $69,764 | $775/mo | 85% |
| Bradford County, PA | 24 mi | $63,675 | $901/mo | 72% |
| Wyoming County, PA | 27 mi | $72,460 | $943/mo | 78% |
| Columbia County, PA | 28 mi | $64,644 | $943/mo | 69% |
| Lycoming County, PA | 29 mi | $63,917 | $913/mo | 69% |
| Montour County, PA | 29 mi | $76,976 | $1,142/mo | 68% |
| Luzerne County, PA | 33 mi | $63,691 | $1,004/mo | 68% |
What a median Sullivan County budget can carry
Here is the Sullivan County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,814 a month: gross income for a household at the Sullivan County median
- Housing at the median rent of $775 uses 13%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,260 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,841 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Sullivan County's.
Who lives in Sullivan County, in numbers
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.1%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Residents | Sullivan County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Sullivan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.6% |
| 60+ min | 12.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Sullivan County
Where the Sullivan County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 29% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Sullivan County budgets.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 56, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Lender oversight for Sullivan County
Sullivan County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Sullivan County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Pennsylvania license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Sullivan County household make?
About $69,764 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 11% below the Pennsylvania median.
What do renters pay in Sullivan County?
$775 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I live in a small Sullivan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Dushore, Laporte, Forksville, Eagles Mere.
Will a Sullivan 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 do I complain to about a lender in Sullivan County?
Start with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.