City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Clarion, PA

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

4,202
Residents
$42,063
Median income
$155,300
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Clarion - the verdict

Nationally, Clarion sits in the 10th percentile for household income and the 72nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

10th
percentile, household income
29th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
72nd
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: Clarion, PA

Pennsylvania's Clarion is a small town, with 4,202 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $42,063 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 7.7%. Typical homes in Clarion are valued around $155,300, and the median resident age is 23.9 years. 46.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Clarion (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Clarion reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 789.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.7°F with 46.9 inches of precipitation per year.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Pennsylvania run around $260, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 30.0 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

4,202 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$42,063 /yr

Poverty 7.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Clarion compare to other US cities?

Here's how Clarion stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 29% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 72% 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: Clarion ranks #186 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Clarion against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Pennsylvania only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Pennsylvania-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Clarion near the bottom of Pennsylvania's cities

Among the 1,865 Pennsylvania cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Clarion ranks #1,623 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Clarion only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,652 of 1,765
6th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Gross Rent
#1,623 of 1,865
0th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Home Value
#1,016 of 1,790
43rd percentile in Pennsylvania
Poverty Rate
#733 of 1,856
60th percentile in Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#190 of 1,861
90th percentile in Pennsylvania

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Pennsylvania only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

10thIncome percentile
72ndSafety percentile

10th percentile nationally for median household income · 72nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Clarion's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Clarion'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 54 Avg. percentile National median
Clarion'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 Clarion's home value compares nationally

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

$155,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 71% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Clarion $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 - Clarion, PA Clarion, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Clarion, 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 Clarion, PA median $42,063/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%
Clarion, 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 Clarion, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 46.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.1%

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

Population
4,202
Median Income
$42,063
Median Home Value
$155,300
Median Age
23.9
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Labor force participation
63.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
46.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
789.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
112.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
676.4
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.7°F
Annual Precipitation
46.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

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 →
3,800 residents4,000 residents4,200 residents4,400 residents4,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,925 residents 4,037 residents ▲ +2.9%
Clarion's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 0
2022 2
2023 1
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.8%
Carpool
5.9%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
17.2%
Work from Home
8.4%

Based on 2,064 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 Clarion sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
30.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Charleroi
4,203 people
Jacksonwald
4,201 people
Mount Pleasant
4,215 people
Kutztown
4,188 people
Aldan
4,219 people
Sharpsville
4,219 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Clarion's 4,202 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Poplar Grove, IL
4,202 people
Paxton, IL
4,201 people
Cold Spring, MN
4,201 people
Kelseyville, CA
4,204 people
Le Sueur, MN
4,204 people
Galeville, NY
4,200 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Clarion's $42,063 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Yarnell, AZ
$42,057 median income
Sebring, FL
$42,072 median income
Perrysville, OH
$42,054 median income
Waurika, OK
$42,054 median income
Superior, AZ
$42,050 median income
Liberty, SC
$42,077 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Clarion, 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 Clarion, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.7% 8.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.2% White 87.7% Black or African American 8.0% Asian 1.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 1.0% 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 Clarion 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
Clarion (this city) 4,202 $42,063
Charleroi 4,203 $43,487
Jacksonwald 4,201 $125,143
Mount Pleasant 4,215 $48,963
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Clarion, PA?

What is the population of Clarion, PA? +

Clarion, PA has a population of 4,202 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Clarion households earn a median of $42,063 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Clarion? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Clarion; 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 Clarion, PA safe? +

Clarion has a total crime rate of 789.1 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 Clarion, PA? +

The median home value in Clarion is $155,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Clarion? +

The average annual temperature in Clarion runs 47.7°F, 46.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

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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.