City · Pennsylvania
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale, city, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Carbondale had 8,731 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,828 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,789 (±65). GEOID 4211232.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,731
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,828 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,789 ±65
Median household income
$47,716
±$12,897 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$132,200
±$17,640 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$660
±$168 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Carbondale and what county is it in?
Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It covers 3.2 square miles of land, 2,722 residents per square mile in 2020.
Carbondale is in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Carbondale, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,731 people lived in Carbondale on July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. The 2020 Census counted 8,828 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,789 (±65).
| Measure | Carbondale | Lackawanna County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,789 ±65 | 216,146 | +318 |
| Households | 3,751 ±234 | 88,263 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.28 ±0.14 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,224 ±287 | 100,177 | no clear change |
Carbondale's population since 2000
From 9,804 in 2000 to 8,731 in 2025: down 10.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Carbondale as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Carbondale?
The median resident of Carbondale is 42.3 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.9%. 1.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Carbondale | Lackawanna County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 ±1.7 | 41.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.3% ±2.1 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.9% ±3.0 pts | 20.5% | – |
| Male | 51.6% ±2.8 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.9% ±4.0 pts | 9.8% | +4.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.2% ±5.3 pts | 79.6% | −7.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±3.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4% ±0.8 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.6% ±1.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0% ±1.7 pts | 5.9% | – |
| With a disability | 18.9% ±3.2 pts | 16.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.5% ±1.9 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.1% ±3.0 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.0% ±3.5 pts | 30.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.5% ±2.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.0% ±4.0 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±1.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Carbondale earn?
Half of Carbondale's 3,751 households earn less than $47,716 a year (±$12,897), against $66,223 in Lackawanna County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $49,355 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 26.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carbondale | Lackawanna County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,716 ±$12,897 | $66,223 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $62,877 ±$7,031 | $89,204 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,436 ±$2,547 | $37,168 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 26.4% ±6.0 pts | 14.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 38.7% ±11.8 pts | 19.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 40.2% ±6.6 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9% ±2.1 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.8% ±5.2 pts | 87.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Carbondale?
Owners occupy 51.2% of Carbondale's occupied homes and renters 48.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $132,200 by its owner (±$17,640). The median renter pays $660 a month including utilities, and 34.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Carbondale | Lackawanna County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $132,200 ±$17,640 | $201,800 | +$20,576 |
| Median gross rent | $660 ±$168 | $1,007 | −$215 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.2% ±8.5 pts | 39.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,183 ±$61 | $1,539 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 51.2% ±6.5 pts | 65.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 48.8% ±6.5 pts | 34.6% | – |
| Housing units | 4,224 ±287 | 100,177 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% ±2.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.0% ±4.4 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 53.0% ±6.2 pts | 64.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.3% ±1.3 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 37.5% ±5.8 pts | 36.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.5% ±4.9 pts | 9.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Carbondale building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Carbondale in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Carbondale work and get to work?
75.8% of Carbondale's workers drive alone and 4.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.4%.
| Measure | Carbondale | Lackawanna County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.7% ±4.5 pts | 59.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.4% ±3.0 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.8% ±6.2 pts | 75.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.4% ±4.4 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 10.2% ±4.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.7% ±2.2 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.4 min ±2.3 | 21.1 min | −3.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Carbondale?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Carbondale (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $33,625 (Tract 1108) to $55,604 (Tract 1109).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1109Lackawanna County | 3,272 | $55,604 |
| Tract 1108Lackawanna County | 2,789 | $33,625 |
| Tract 1107Lackawanna County | 2,728 | $51,563 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Carbondale) · Census block assignment files
How does Carbondale compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Carbondale is the 3,533rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 88th-most populous of 1,012 in Pennsylvania.
Carbondale ranks 2,042nd of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 88th | 1,012 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 957th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 453rd | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 2,042nd | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 2,001st | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,859th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 1,871st | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 55th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,581st | 2,129 |
| Median age | 1,304th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,995th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 1,667th | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 1,939th | 2,156 |
Carbondale's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Carbondale with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Carbondale?
12 of the 57 figures for Carbondale on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Carbondale are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Carbondale.