Skip to main content

Carbon County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Carbon County, Pennsylvania has a population of 65,191, the 38th most populous county in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $67,877 and the median home value is $193,700. The poverty rate is 12.0%.

Carbon County Quick Facts

Population 65,191
Median Household Income $67,877
Median Home Value $193,700
Poverty Rate 12.0%
Unemployment Rate 7.1%
Median Age 46.3 years
Homeownership Rate 77.2%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 18.3%
High School Graduation 90.3%
Cities/Places 12
Population 65,191 38th of 67
Median Income $67,877 11% lower state
Poverty Rate 12.0%
Unemployment 7.1%

Economy & Housing

Employment

7.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3% | National: 5.2%
60.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.2%
Renter 22.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

21out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 43 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Carbon County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Palmerton borough5,624$71,47112.3%$161,500
Lehighton borough5,268$62,08313.1%$198,600
Jim Thorpe borough4,534$70,6257.6%$177,400
Lansford borough4,144$44,07824.0%$48,700
Nesquehoning borough3,345$53,57115.8%$105,400
Summit Hill borough3,128$66,68527.2%$99,100
Weatherly borough2,556$55,29820.9%$148,300
Bowmanstown borough994$67,1257.1%$181,600
Beaver Meadows borough804$56,56318.2%$116,300
Weissport borough492$58,03616.5%$76,400
Parryville borough386$62,9176.0%$184,000
East Side borough367$39,12544.7%$114,700

Explore Pennsylvania Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Carbon County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 65,191. It is the 38th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carbon County is 46.3 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carbon County is $67,877. This is 11% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is 2% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $193,700. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $240,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Carbon County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carbon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.4%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.7%.

Education

18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Carbon County, Pennsylvania?

Carbon County has a population of 65,191, making it the 38th most populous county in Pennsylvania.

What is the median income in Carbon County?

The median household income in Carbon County is $67,877 with a poverty rate of 12.0%.

How many cities are in Carbon County, Pennsylvania?

Carbon County contains 12 Census-designated places.