Bear Lake, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bear Lake, Pennsylvania had a total population of 132, the 1832nd largest borough in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $38,750, which is 50% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 50% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 21.5% is notably above the national average.
Bear Lake Quick Facts
How Bear Lake Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 132 | 132 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $33,125 | $38,750 | +17.0% |
| Median home value | $64,000 | $70,000 | +9.4% |
How Bear Lake Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Bear Lake Rankings in Pennsylvania
Explore Pennsylvania Rankings
Other Cities in Warren County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | 9,240 | $53,815 | 9.9% | $103,800 |
| North Warren | 2,104 | $56,549 | 17.2% | $121,500 |
| Youngsville | 1,803 | $58,789 | 12.0% | $118,800 |
| Russell | 1,215 | $90,250 | 4.3% | $191,900 |
| Sheffield | 833 | $58,646 | 26.4% | $90,000 |
| Tidioute | 786 | $43,158 | 11.1% | $78,300 |
| Columbus | 664 | $59,612 | 7.5% | $110,900 |
| Starbrick | 493 | $53,889 | 29.6% | $105,600 |
| Sugar Grove | 492 | $71,875 | 4.7% | $141,800 |
| Clarendon | 358 | $57,708 | 23.6% | $85,900 |
Cities Similar to Bear Lake
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunola | 134 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Charlottsville | 134 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Renfrew | 129 | N/A | N/A | 17.4% | 0.8% |
| Hunterstown | 137 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 20.4% |
| North Washington | 141 | N/A | $118,800 | 15.8% | 41.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 132, Bear Lake'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
Bear Lake is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Warren County. The total population is 132. It ranks as the 1832nd most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bear Lake is 46.5 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 40.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bear Lake is $38,750. This is 50% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.1%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 21.5%. This is 310% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $70,000. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Bear Lake is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 69.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Bear Lake is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.8%.
Education
12.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 63% 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 90.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bear Lake, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bear Lake, Pennsylvania?
Bear Lake, Pennsylvania has a population of 132 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bear Lake, PA?
The median household income in Bear Lake is $38,750, which is 52% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bear Lake, PA?
The poverty rate in Bear Lake is 12.1%. This means approximately 16 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Bear Lake, Pennsylvania?
Bear Lake's population is 84.1% White, 0.0% Black, 9.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bear Lake, PA?
The median home value in Bear Lake is $70,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Bear Lake, Pennsylvania?
12.9% of adults (25+) in Bear Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.