Atlas, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 719, Atlas's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Atlas is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Northumberland County. The total population is 719. It ranks as the 1165th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Atlas is 51.5 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 14.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Atlas is $51,522. This is 34% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 72% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 14.8%. This is 181% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $53,600. Housing costs are 79% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Atlas is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Atlas has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 99.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.0%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Atlas, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.