1st Advantage MortgageIn Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $68,487 a year and the typical rent is $933. 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
- Getting oriented in Susquehanna County
- Income in Susquehanna County compared with Pennsylvania
- What it costs to live in Susquehanna County
- The Susquehanna County job picture
- Towns and communities in Susquehanna County
- Regional comparison for Susquehanna County
- A Susquehanna County household budget, worked through
- More Susquehanna County figures
- Reading the Susquehanna County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Susquehanna County
- A Susquehanna County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Susquehanna County
With an estimated 38,219 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Susquehanna County ranks 54th of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Land area is 823 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 46 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (13 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Forest City, with about 1,770 residents, or 5% of the county.
Income in Susquehanna County compared with Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County households have a median income of $68,487 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 28th of 67 in Pennsylvania.
| Band | Susquehanna County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.2% | -3.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Susquehanna County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 11.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Susquehanna County
A typical Susquehanna County rental runs $933 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Pennsylvania. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $216,400, a typical Susquehanna County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Susquehanna County households own their home and 22% rent. Median construction year: 1975.
| Home costs | Susquehanna County | Pennsylvania | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $933/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,400 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 24% | n/a |
Because most Susquehanna County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Susquehanna County job picture
The biggest employer of Susquehanna County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 6% locally and 1% for Pennsylvania. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Susquehanna County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -6.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -3.8 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 Susquehanna County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Susquehanna County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 9,565 people, so roughly 75% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $35,000 in Lanesboro to $57,404 in Forest City. Rent is cheapest in Susquehanna Depot ($652) and steepest in Lanesboro ($1,094). This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City | borough | 1,770 | $57,404 | $879 | 21 mi |
| Montrose | borough | 1,512 | $53,269 | $854 | 4 mi |
| Susquehanna Depot | borough | 1,297 | $54,500 | $652 | 13 mi |
| Hallstead | borough | 1,217 | $50,833 | $888 | 10 mi |
| New Milford | borough | 748 | $56,875 | $850 | 5 mi |
| Lanesboro | borough | 669 | $35,000 | $1,094 | 15 mi |
| Great Bend | borough | 581 | $46,071 | $702 | 11 mi |
| Oakland | borough | 527 | $54,625 | $738 | 13 mi |
| Thompson | borough | 327 | $58,393 | $1,125 | 15 mi |
| Hop Bottom | borough | 291 | $66,875 | $1,080 | 8 mi |
| Little Meadows | borough | 239 | $57,500 | $930 | 20 mi |
| Union Dale | borough | 225 | $55,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Friendsville | borough | 162 | $85,000 | n/a | 14 mi |
Regional comparison for Susquehanna County
Wyoming County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bradford County, is 36 miles off. Income ranges from $62,381 in Wayne County to $72,739 in Tioga County; 2 of these neighbors top Susquehanna County's median. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna County | - | $68,487 | $933/mo | 78% |
| Wyoming County, PA | 23 mi | $72,460 | $943/mo | 78% |
| Broome County, NY | 24 mi | $62,616 | $941/mo | 65% |
| Lackawanna County, PA | 28 mi | $66,223 | $1,007/mo | 65% |
| Wayne County, PA | 29 mi | $62,381 | $1,038/mo | 81% |
| Tioga County, NY | 36 mi | $72,739 | $928/mo | 79% |
| Bradford County, PA | 36 mi | $63,675 | $901/mo | 72% |
A Susquehanna County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Susquehanna County's medians:
- Start: $5,707 gross per month ($68,487 / 12)
- 16% goes to median rent ($933)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,122 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Susquehanna County figures
19% of Susquehanna County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Susquehanna County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Reading the Susquehanna County data as a borrower
Where the Susquehanna County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Susquehanna County borrower sees (free reports).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Licensing and complaints for Susquehanna County
Consumer lenders serving Susquehanna County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Pennsylvania that is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide picture.
A Susquehanna County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Susquehanna County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Susquehanna County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Susquehanna County earn?
The median is $68,487; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Susquehanna County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $933 against $1,209 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Susquehanna County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Forest City?
Yes, along with the other 12 Census places in Susquehanna County, such as Montrose, Susquehanna Depot, Hallstead.
Is the fit check different in Susquehanna County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.