These are the 10 richest counties in Pennsylvania, study says. How Centre County fared
With a median income sitting at $64,995, Centre County is the fifth wealthiest county in Pennsylvania, according to a study published by tech company SmartAsset.
SmartAsset used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service and popular real estate site Zillow to measure each U.S. county’s median income, investment income and home values.
Centre County’s median income is about $2,600 lower than the statewide figure, which sits at $67,587. However, the county’s investment income and median home value are higher than the state. Centre County’s investment income is about $3,000 higher than the state average, while the county’s median home value is about $114,000 more.
Even though Centre County ranks high on the list of richest counties in Pennsylvania, the Census Bureau still reports 15.2% of the population lives in poverty.
With a median income of more than $100,000, Chester County took the No. 1 spot in the state in the ranking. Here’s a look at the 10 richest counties Pennsylvania and how they compare nationally.
Wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania
No. 1: Chester County
- Median income: $109,969
- Investment income: $60,108
- Median home value: $500,572
No. 2: Bucks County
- Median income: $99,302
- Investment income: $42,863
- Median home value: $453,659
No. 3: Montgomery County
- Median income: $99,361
- Investment income: $71,283
- Median home value: $434,099
No. 4: Delaware County
- Median income: $80,398
- Investment income: $54,132
- Median home value: $320,109
No. 5: Centre County
- Median income: $64,995
- Investment income: $31,489
- Median home value: $315,307
No. 6: Northampton County
- Median income: $77,103
- Investment income: $27,705
- Median home value: $309,330
No. 7: Butler County
- Median income: $77,065
- Investment income: $27,002
- Median home value: $274,375
No. 8: Lancaster County
- Median income: $73,688
- Investment income: $28,166
- Median home value: $326,647
No. 9: Cumberland County
- Median income: $77,001
- Investment income: $26,311
- Medan home value: $300,667
No. 10: Lehigh County
- Median income: $69,440
- Investment income: $28,473
- Median home value: $300,916
How did Pennsylvania counties rank nationally?
Chester County was ranked the 99th wealthiest out of all U.S. counties, while Bucks County ranked at No. 143. Centre County is came in at spot No. 432.
San Mateo County in California took the first spot nationally, with a median income of $136,837. Three other California counties made the top five. Counties in Massachusetts, Wyoming, New York and Virginia also made the top 10.
