Cost of Living in Carbon County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Carbon County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Carbon County ranks #2,262 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 28%)
Sourced county brief
Carbon County Renter Median Income Estimated at $41,543
The median income for renter households in Carbon County is $41,543. According to ACS table B25071, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in the county is 27.4%, which is 0.3 percentage points below the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of 27.7%. The median gross rent for the area is $994, slightly above the state unweighted county mean of $991. Homeowners in Carbon County face median selected monthly owner costs of $1,076, while the state unweighted mean for all counties is $1,010. The median home value in the county is $211,400, compared to the unweighted state mean of $212,079. Data are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates and are intended for snapshot analysis only. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Carbon County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.4% of renter household income in Carbon County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $994 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,076. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Carbon County's $994 median is 0.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Carbon County
Rent Burden
17.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,576
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.1%
of gross income
The median home in Carbon County may be a stretch
Median home value is $211,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,688 vs. your max of $1,576.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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