Distant, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Distant, Pennsylvania had a total population of 606, the 1253rd largest community in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $60,438, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 23.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.1%.
Distant Quick Facts
How Distant 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 | 611 | 606 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $71,094 | $60,438 | -15.0% |
| Median home value | $111,800 | $127,000 | +13.6% |
How Distant 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+)
Distant Rankings in Pennsylvania
Explore Pennsylvania Rankings
Cities Similar to Distant
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joffre | 610 | N/A | N/A | 11.9% | 31.8% |
| Sheatown | 614 | $60,875 | $124,600 | 50.1% | 18.7% |
| Strabane | 605 | $63,281 | $170,400 | 40.8% | 2.0% |
| Bethel | 587 | N/A | $118,200 | 11.3% | 51.6% |
| Blaine Hill | 587 | N/A | $158,000 | 7.5% | 46.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 606, Distant'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
Distant is a small community located in Pennsylvania. The total population is 606. It ranks as the 1253rd most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.
Age Demographics
The median age in Distant is 34.4 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Distant is $60,438. This is 22% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.6%. This is 102% 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 2.1%. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $127,000. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Distant is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 69.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Distant has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.5% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.8%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.
Education
15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 85.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Distant, 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 Distant, Pennsylvania?
Distant, Pennsylvania has a population of 606 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Distant, PA?
The median household income in Distant is $60,438, which is 25% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Distant, PA?
The poverty rate in Distant is 23.6%. This means approximately 143 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Distant, Pennsylvania?
Distant's population is 97.5% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Distant, PA?
The median home value in Distant is $127,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Distant, Pennsylvania?
15.2% of adults (25+) in Distant hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.