City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Carbondale, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Carbondale - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

8,820
Residents
$48,592
Median income
$118,800
Median home
$1,252
Median rent (state)

Carbondale - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Carbondale lands in the 17th percentile for household income and the 89th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

17th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
41st
percentile, median rent
89th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Carbondale, PA

8,820 people live in Carbondale, Pennsylvania - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $48,592 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.0%. Home values in Carbondale run a median of $118,800, and the median resident age is 42.5 years. 18.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 93% from five years earlier. Carbondale reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 405.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,252 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). Workers in Carbondale report an average commute of 18.3 minutes, with 78.3% driving alone and 4.4% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 89.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

8,820 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$48,592 /yr

Poverty 21.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Carbondale compare to other US cities?

Carbondale measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% pricier than other cities
Safety 89% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Pennsylvania and the picture shifts: Carbondale ranks #98 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Carbondale's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

17thIncome percentile
89thSafety percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income · 89th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Carbondale's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Carbondale's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 59 Avg. percentile National median
Carbondale's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Carbondale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$118,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Carbondale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Carbondale, PA Carbondale, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carbondale, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Carbondale, PA median $48,592/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Carbondale, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Carbondale, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
8,820
Median Income
$48,592
Median Home Value
$118,800
Median Age
42.5
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Labor force participation
48.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
405.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
101.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
303.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,720 residents8,740 residents8,760 residents8,780 residents8,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,774 residents 8,731 residents ▼ -0.5%
Carbondale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 27
2020 1
2021 13
2022 0
2023 4
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 93% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.3 minutes
Drive Alone
78.3%
Carpool
6.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
10.2%
Work from Home
4.4%
Other
0.9%

Based on 3,361 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Carbondale sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,252/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Park Forest
8,810 people
Collingdale
8,862 people
East York
8,868 people
Beaver Falls
8,885 people
Northwest Harborcreek
8,908 people
Village Green-Green Ridge
8,725 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carbondale's 8,820 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Woodmoor, CO
8,819 people
Montecito, CA
8,823 people
Winslow, AZ
8,831 people
Bayport, NY
8,831 people
St. Pete Beach, FL
8,832 people
Fort Valley, GA
8,808 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carbondale's $48,592 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Quinhagak, AK
$48,594 median income
Vergennes, IL
$48,594 median income
Waterford, OH
$48,594 median income
Moundsville, WV
$48,590 median income
Comanche, TX
$48,596 median income
Dock Junction, GA
$48,600 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carbondale, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Carbondale, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.9% 6.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.6% White 87.9% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 6.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Carbondale compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Carbondale (this city) 8,820 $48,592
Park Forest 8,810 $79,363
Collingdale 8,862 $49,578
East York 8,868 $83,030
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carbondale, PA?

What is the population of Carbondale, PA? +

The population of Carbondale, PA stands at 8,820 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Carbondale, PA? +

In Carbondale, the typical household earns $48,592 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carbondale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Carbondale; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is Carbondale, PA safe? +

Carbondale has a total crime rate of 405.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Carbondale, PA? +

A typical home in Carbondale is worth $118,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.