Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Clarks Summit is a small city located in Pennsylvania, within Lackawanna County. The total population is 5,073. It ranks as the 269th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clarks Summit is 43.8 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 11.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clarks Summit is $92,083. This is 18% higher than the state median of $77,971. It is also 14% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.6%. This is 61% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 81% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $234,900. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Clarks Summit is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clarks Summit has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 8.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

56.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clarks Summit in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 60% higher 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 98.9%. Notably, 28.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clarks Summit, 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.