Karns City, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 194, Karns City'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

Karns City is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Butler County. The total population is 194. It ranks as the 1733rd most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Karns City is 39.0 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 40.9 years. With 30.9% of the population under 18, Karns City has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 17.5% 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 Karns City is $49,583. This is 36% 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 21.6%. This is 85% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Karns City, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $141,300. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Karns City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Karns City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.9% of all residents.

Education

6.3% 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 82% 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 92.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Karns City, 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.