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Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

High PovertyPoverty rate of 26.5% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania had a total population of 13,024, the 62nd largest town in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $51,536, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 26.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Bloomsburg Quick Facts

Population 13,024
Median Household Income $51,536
Median Home Value $179,100
Poverty Rate 26.5%
Unemployment Rate 7.9%
Median Age 24.3 years
Homeownership Rate 35.4%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 32.5%
High School Graduation Rate 95.1%
Diversity Index 28/100
Population 13,024 62nd of 1,991
Median Income $51,536 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 26.5% 113% higher than national
Median Home Value $179,100 average

How Bloomsburg Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population12,90613,024+0.9%
Median household income$49,096$51,536+5.0%
Median home value$186,100$179,100-3.8%

How Bloomsburg Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.8%
$25K-$50K 22.3%
$50K-$100K 30.3%
$100K+ 20.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
9.3%
$10K-$15K
5.7%
$15K-$20K
6.6%
$20K-$25K
5.2%
$25K-$30K
5.6%
$30K-$35K
3.3%
$35K-$40K
4.8%
$40K-$45K
2.1%
$45K-$50K
6.5%
$50K-$60K
7.8%
$60K-$75K
11.0%
$75K-$100K
11.4%
$100K-$125K
8.4%
$125K-$150K
6.2%
$150K-$200K
4.0%
$200K+
2.1%

Employment

7.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3%|National: 5.2%
57.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 35.4%
Renter 64.5%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $980/mo 22.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

28out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Bloomsburg Rankings in Pennsylvania

#62 Population of 1,991
#1531 Median Income of 1,854
#521 Education of 1,987
#891 Home Value of 1,871

Other Cities in Columbia County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Berwick 10,317 $49,800 16.5% $156,500
Espy 1,624 $79,038 2.3% $166,900
Catawissa 1,536 $51,992 16.4% $145,900
Almedia 1,271 $67,361 21.6% $194,000
Mifflinville 1,193 $48,173 15.3% $215,300
Lightstreet 1,156 $70,739 10.2% $168,400
Millville 943 $65,469 21.8% $218,100
Lime Ridge 842 $63,148 18.3% $208,100
Briar Creek 828 $42,647 39.8% $160,400
Buckhorn 646 $59,531 38.7% $277,600

Cities Similar to Bloomsburg

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Washington13,368$52,975$128,20019.0%16.8%
Pottsville13,364$54,332$100,50021.9%19.9%
Kingston13,397$55,347$172,90031.7%18.3%
Sharon12,936$45,670$78,80018.4%20.0%
Yeadon12,181$49,759$182,80025.0%12.6%

Population Overview

Bloomsburg is a small city located in Pennsylvania, within Columbia County. The total population is 13,024. It ranks as the 62nd most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bloomsburg is 24.3 years. This is 41% lower than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 10.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bloomsburg is $51,536. 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 26.5%. This is 127% 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 7.9%. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $179,100. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $254,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 35.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bloomsburg is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.6%. The Black or African American population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

32.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% 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 95.1%. Notably, 15.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bloomsburg, 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 Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania?

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania has a population of 13,024 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Bloomsburg, PA?

The median household income in Bloomsburg is $51,536, which is 36% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Bloomsburg, PA?

The poverty rate in Bloomsburg is 26.5%. This means approximately 2,556 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania?

Bloomsburg's population is 84.2% White, 3.3% Black, 8.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Bloomsburg, PA?

The median home value in Bloomsburg is $179,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x.

How educated is Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania?

32.5% of adults (25+) in Bloomsburg hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 15.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.