Dawson, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Dawson, Pennsylvania had a total population of 388, the 1473rd largest borough in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $48,929, which is 37% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 30.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 37% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (30.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 7.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 12.5% is notably above the national average.
Dawson Quick Facts
How Dawson 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 | 387 | 388 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $53,594 | $48,929 | -8.7% |
| Median home value | $89,100 | $88,000 | -1.2% |
How Dawson 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+)
Dawson Rankings in Pennsylvania
Explore Pennsylvania Rankings
Other Cities in Fayette County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniontown | 9,742 | $35,454 | 27.8% | $87,700 |
| Connellsville | 6,849 | $45,721 | 16.3% | $122,900 |
| Masontown | 3,201 | $53,676 | 31.7% | $126,300 |
| Leith-Hatfield | 2,577 | $91,823 | 5.4% | $296,700 |
| Brownsville | 2,412 | $31,810 | 31.6% | $69,400 |
| Oliver | 2,393 | $55,602 | 25.1% | $144,400 |
| East Uniontown | 2,195 | $48,305 | 25.6% | $114,800 |
| South Connellsville | 1,807 | $48,250 | 21.3% | $112,000 |
| Hopwood | 1,767 | $44,321 | 11.3% | $190,600 |
| Hiller | 1,536 | $78,015 | 15.1% | $121,300 |
Cities Similar to Dawson
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennwyn | 384 | N/A | $186,700 | 27.2% | 26.6% |
| Forestville (Butler County) | 381 | N/A | $108,800 | 23.8% | 23.6% |
| Mifflin | 395 | $51,058 | $91,400 | 4.1% | 24.0% |
| Industry | 406 | N/A | $110,800 | 4.6% | 6.9% |
| Corsica | 378 | $50,972 | $111,800 | 21.1% | 15.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 388, Dawson'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
Dawson is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Fayette County. The total population is 388. It ranks as the 1473rd most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.
Age Demographics
The median age in Dawson is 46.4 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 13.4% 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 Dawson is $48,929. This is 37% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.7%. This is 162% 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 12.5%. This is 138% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $88,000. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Dawson is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Dawson has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.7% of all residents.
Education
7.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 80% 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 84.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Dawson, 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 Dawson, Pennsylvania?
Dawson, Pennsylvania has a population of 388 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Dawson, PA?
The median household income in Dawson is $48,929, which is 39% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Dawson, PA?
The poverty rate in Dawson is 30.7%. This means approximately 119 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Dawson, Pennsylvania?
Dawson's population is 98.7% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Dawson, PA?
The median home value in Dawson is $88,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Dawson, Pennsylvania?
7.0% of adults (25+) in Dawson hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.