Fayette County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fayette County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 126,967. It is the 27th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 20 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fayette County is 45.4 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fayette County is $56,093. This is 26% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.4%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $126,900. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $240,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Fayette County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fayette County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.0%. The Black or African American population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 8.4%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.7%.

Education

18.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 90.0%.