Oberlin, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 269, Oberlin'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

Oberlin is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Dauphin County. The total population is 269. It ranks as the 1628th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Oberlin is 25.0 years. This is 39% lower than the state median of 40.9 years. With 37.2% of the population under 18, Oberlin has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Oberlin is $125,809. This is 61% higher than the state median of $77,971. It is also 56% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Oberlin. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 15.7%. This is 198% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $229,400. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Oberlin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Oberlin is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 41.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (16.4% vs 10.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (41.3% vs 8.7%).

Education

18.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Oberlin, 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.