These 10 counties are the poorest in PA, ranking says. One has median home value of $51K

The poorest county in Pennsylvania has a median household income of $43,615, according to a recent report from financial website SmartAsset. The site named Cameron County the poorest in the commonwealth.

SmartAsset used sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, real estate site Zillow and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to compile the ranking, which was based on figures such as median income, investment income and median home values.

Cameron County also had the lowest median home value among the 10 counties, at $51,589.

Forest County had the highest poverty rate of the 10 poorest counties, at 19.6%, compared to Pennsylvania’s statewide poverty rate of 12.1%, according to the Census Bureau.

The analysis named Chester County the richest in Pennsylvania, with a median income of $109,969. Centre County was ranked the fifth wealthiest in the commonwealth, with a median household income of $64,995.

Poorest counties in Pennsylvania

Here’s how the 10 poorest counties in Pennsylvania compare, according to SmartAsset:

1. Cameron County

• Median income: $43,615

• Investment income: $20,073

• Median home value: $51,589

• Poverty level: 13.4%

2. McKean County

• Median income: $52,350

• Investment income: $23,778

• Median home value: $76,539

• Poverty level: 13.4%

3. Forest County

• Median income: $43,958

• Investment income: $17,874

• Median home value: $72,815

• Poverty level: 19.6%

4. Cambria County

• Median income: $51,018

• Investment income: $18,825

• Median home value: $83,115

• Poverty level: 12.9%

5. Venango County

• Median income: $55,899

• Investment income: $25,247

• Median home value: $114,982

• Poverty level: 13.1%

6. Clearfield County

• Median income: $52,826

• Investment income: $20,123

• Median home value: $93,728

• Poverty level: 14.2%

7. Fayette County

• Median income: $51,321

• Investment income: $24,852

• Median home value: $126,030

• Poverty level: 15.9%

8. Warren County

• Median income: $55,796

• Investment income: $29,094

• Median home value: $127,855

• Poverty level: 12.3%

9. Jefferson County

• Median income: $52,815

• Investment income: $33,013

• Median home value: $88,156

• Poverty level: 13.3%

10. Elk County

• Median income: $57,551

• Investment income: $23,299

• Median home value: $99,796

• Poverty level: 10.1%

This story was originally published July 13, 2023 at 7:00 AM.

Meredith Howard

Belleville News-Democrat

Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription