Carbon County

Pennsylvania · PA

#45 in Pennsylvania
63.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Modestly Above National Livability Standards

Carbon County's composite score of 63.5 places it 13.5 percentile points above the national median of 50.0, indicating solid livability compared to typical American counties. This reflects competitive performance across available dimensions, particularly in affordability.

Slightly Below Pennsylvania Average

At 63.5, Carbon County trails Pennsylvania's 66.0 state average by 2.5 points, ranking it in the lower-middle tier among the eight profiled counties. It performs reasonably well by state standards, though several peers outpace it.

Solid Balance of Cost and Taxes

Carbon County scores 75.0 on affordability and 60.0 on taxes, translating to a median home value of $193,700 and rent of $975 monthly. This balanced approach makes it a reasonable value proposition for cost-conscious households.

Income Levels Constrain Economic Growth

The county's income score of 27.7 and median household income of $67,877 lag behind state averages and several peer counties. Limited local earning potential may challenge families seeking upward mobility.

For Cost-Conscious Working Families

Carbon County suits working families and young couples who value housing affordability and reasonable taxes over maximum earning potential. It's a solid middle-ground choice for those seeking stability without committing to high cost-of-living areas.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax60Cost75SafetyComing SoonHealth71.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.7Risk40.6WaterComing Soon
🏛60
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠75
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼27.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
71.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
40.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Carbon County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Carbon County

via TaxByCounty

Carbon taxes higher than most U.S. counties

Carbon County's effective tax rate of 1.504% sits well above the national median of 1.09%, placing it in roughly the 78th percentile nationwide. The median property tax of $2,914 exceeds the national median of $2,690, reflecting the county's above-average rate and solid property values.

Among Pennsylvania's steeper tax counties

Carbon County ranks in the upper fifth of Pennsylvania counties by effective tax rate, exceeding the state average of 1.317% by nearly 2 percentage points. Its median tax of $2,914 is notably higher than the state median of $2,657, signaling a genuinely heavy burden for residents.

Carbon steeper than Monroe, less than Cameron

Carbon's 1.504% rate exceeds nearby Luzerne and Monroe counties, but falls short of Cameron County's 1.667%. For residents in this eastern Pennsylvania region, Carbon represents a mid-to-high tax environment relative to immediate neighbors.

Expect roughly $2,914 annually

On Carbon's median home value of $193,700, the effective rate of 1.504% translates to an estimated annual property tax of $2,914. This is a meaningful burden for middle-value properties in the county.

Appeals pay off in higher-rate environment

With one of Pennsylvania's steeper effective rates, Carbon County homeowners have extra incentive to verify their assessments. An appeal could yield substantial savings given the county's aggressive tax environment.

Cost of Living in Carbon County

via CostByCounty

Carbon faces above-average rent stress

Carbon County residents spend 17.2% of income on housing—above the 16.5% national average—despite earning $67,877, which trails the national median by 9%. The combination of higher-than-average rent burden and below-average income creates meaningful affordability pressure.

Above-average burden in Pennsylvania

Carbon's 17.2% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Pennsylvania's 16.5% average, placing it among the state's less affordable counties despite a median rent of $975 that runs 2% above the state norm. This middle-ground pricing combined with below-median incomes creates the strain.

Pricier than poor rural counties

Carbon's $975 rent sits between Cambria ($733) and Centre ($1,181), positioning it as a transitional county between rural and educated-market areas. The affordability stress here exceeds cheaper rural neighbors while offering fewer economic advantages than richer regions.

Housing squeeze in Carbon

Renters allocate $975 monthly (17.2% of income) and homeowners $1,035 (18.3%) against the $67,877 median household income. These percentages indicate genuine housing strain, with nearly one-fifth of income dedicated to shelter costs.

Carbon requires careful income assessment

Consider Carbon County if your income substantially exceeds the $67,877 median or if you can access the $193,700 median home price through favorable financing. Job seekers should verify local earning potential—the county's affordability stress suggests wage growth may lag regional trends.

Income & Jobs in Carbon County

via IncomeByCounty

Carbon nearly matches the nation

Carbon County's median household income of $67,877 falls just 9% below the national median of $74,755, positioning the county slightly below middle-income status nationwide. This Appalachian county performs better than many rural peers but lags affluent suburban regions across the country.

Slightly below Pennsylvania average

Carbon County ranks in the middle third of Pennsylvania's 67 counties with a median household income of $67,877—just $1,737 below the state average of $69,614. The county's near-average performance reflects a mixed economy anchored in tourism, healthcare, and legacy industries.

Middle ground between extremes

Carbon County's $67,877 median income positions it between wealthier Centre County ($72,748) and struggling Cameron County ($47,681), capturing the Appalachian middle class. The county's economy benefits from its location between the Pocono Mountains and the Lehigh Valley industrial corridor.

Housing burden edges higher here

Carbon County's 17.2% rent-to-income ratio, though still below the 30% affordability threshold, runs higher than the state average and approaches the warning zone. With a median home value of $193,700 and median income of $67,877, residents must budget carefully to balance housing costs and other priorities.

Modest income requires intentional planning

Carbon County's median household income of $67,877 leaves limited margin for wealth-building, but disciplined saving and smart investing remain possible. Target saving 5-8% of income, prioritize high-yield savings accounts for emergencies, and explore employer retirement plans to steadily build long-term financial security.

Health in Carbon County

via HealthByCounty

Carbon lags national health benchmarks

At 74.5 years, Carbon County's life expectancy trails the U.S. average of 76.4 years by 1.9 years. Nearly 18% of residents report poor or fair health, pointing to significant chronic disease and wellness gaps.

Near bottom of state health rankings

Carbon County's 74.5-year life expectancy ranks it among Pennsylvania's lowest counties, falling 1.9 years short of the state average of 76.4 years. The 17.8% poor/fair health rate indicates persistent health stressors across the population.

Tied with Cambria in regional struggles

Carbon County's 74.5 years nearly matches Cambria County (74.6) and Clarion County (74.9), forming a cluster of counties facing severe health challenges. All three fall 6-7 years behind Chester County (81.0 years).

High uninsured rate, critical provider shortage

At 6.8% uninsured—just below the state average of 7.0%—Carbon County faces a more pressing problem: only 34 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents, the lowest in this county set. Mental health access (87 providers per 100K) is also severely limited.

Close coverage gaps and seek care

Carbon County's 6.8% uninsured rate and extreme provider shortage demand immediate action. Visit www.healthcare.gov to enroll, then ask your insurer about patient navigator programs and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that serve underserved areas.

Disaster Risk in Carbon County

via RiskByCounty

Carbon faces below-average risk overall

Carbon County's composite risk score of 59.41 places it in the relatively low category, nearly 8 points below Pennsylvania's state average of 67.45. While the county experiences some natural hazard exposure, it ranks among the safer regions statewide.

Lower-risk positioning in Pennsylvania

Carbon County ranks in the lower-risk half of Pennsylvania's 67 counties for disaster exposure. Its score reflects moderate hazard exposure without the elevated vulnerability seen in higher-risk counties.

Safer than most nearby counties

Carbon County's 59.41 score is lower than Cambria (76.43), Centre (67.97), and Butler (79.26) to the west. It sits higher than only Clarion County (30.03) and Cameron County (12.63) among the broader region.

Flooding and hurricanes lead concerns

Carbon County's flood risk of 67.53 and hurricane risk of 73.13 are its two highest hazard exposures. While tornado risk (37.88) and earthquake risk (46.60) remain relatively modest, water-related threats deserve primary planning attention.

Flood insurance should be prioritized

With a flood risk score of 67.53, Carbon County residents should secure standalone flood insurance as a core protection. Verify that your homeowners policy covers wind damage and maintain clear drainage around your property.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.