Potter County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Potter County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 16,188. It is the 63rd most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Potter County is 48.4 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 10.9% 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 Potter County is $59,020. This is 24% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $153,100. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Potter County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Potter County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 8.7%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

18.1% 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 48% 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 91.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Potter County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Pennsylvania and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.