Borough · Pennsylvania

Donora, Pennsylvania

Donora, borough, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Donora had 4,462 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,569 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,527 (±23). GEOID 4219536.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

4,462

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,569 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,527 ±23

Median household income

$39,544

±$10,896 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971

Median home value

$62,300

±$9,349 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500

Median gross rent

$916

±$98 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209

Where is Donora and what county is it in?

Donora is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It covers 1.9 square miles of land, 2,406 residents per square mile in 2020.

Donora is in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 8 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Donora (marked with a dot) in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Donora, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 4,462 people lived in Donora on July 1, 2025, down 2.3% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. The 2020 Census counted 4,569 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,527 (±23).

  • July 2020→2021 −17 (4,547)
  • 2021→2022 −28 (4,519)
  • 2022→2023 −14 (4,505)
  • 2023→2024 −23 (4,482)
  • 2024→2025 −20 (4,462)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure DonoraWashington CountyPennsylvania Change since 2015-2019
Total population 4,527 ±23 210,042 13,018,639 −71
Households 2,445 ±257 88,505 5,274,853 +522
Average household size 1.82 ±0.19 2.31 2.39 −0.52
Housing units 2,884 ±272 97,923 5,806,452 no clear change

Donora's population since 2000

From 5,653 in 2000 to 4,462 in 2025: down 21.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Donora 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.

  • 2000 Census 5,653
  • 2005 (estimate) 5,178
  • 2010 Census 4,781
  • 2015 (estimate) 4,668
  • 2020 Census 4,569
  • 2025 (estimate) 4,462

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 Donora?

The median resident of Donora is 48.4 years old; 15.3% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.6%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure DonoraWashington CountyPennsylvania Change since 2015-2019
Median age 48.4 ±3.1 44.2 40.9 +10.4
Under 18 years 15.3% ±7.1 pts 19.6% 20.4% –
65 years and over 17.5% ±4.7 pts 22.0% 19.5% –
Male 49.5% ±5.4 pts 49.5% 49.3% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.3% ±4.6 pts 2.1% 8.7% –
White alone, not Hispanic 75.1% ±8.0 pts 89.7% 73.0% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 10.6% ±4.9 pts 3.2% 10.3% −8.4 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 1.3% 3.8% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 9.5% ±7.7 pts 3.5% 3.6% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.6% ±1.5 pts 0.3% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 4.5% ±4.4 pts 2.4% 7.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 4.9% ±4.5 pts 3.6% 12.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 5.4% ±2.7 pts 6.8% 6.1% –
With a disability 23.3% ±6.0 pts 14.9% 14.4% –
No health insurance coverage 3.7% ±2.6 pts 3.9% 5.6% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 92.4% ±3.9 pts 94.6% 92.1% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 12.9% ±4.4 pts 32.9% 35.2% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.4% ±2.4 pts 12.4% 14.3% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 91.5% ±4.2 pts 90.5% 89.3% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.0% ±0.7 pts 1.2% 1.9% –

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 Donora earn?

Half of Donora's 2,445 households earn less than $39,544 a year (±$10,896), against $78,958 in Washington County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $41,376 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 29.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure DonoraWashington CountyPennsylvania Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $39,544 ±$10,896 $78,958 $77,971 no clear change
Mean household income $54,228 ±$7,944 $105,512 $107,538 –
Per capita income $29,513 ±$4,173 $45,022 $44,355 +$6,244
People below the poverty line 29.6% ±9.6 pts 9.6% 11.7% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 49.2% ±29.0 pts 13.4% 15.6% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 28.8% ±8.1 pts 13.9% 14.4% –
Households with a computer 87.5% ±5.5 pts 93.6% 93.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 80.6% ±6.6 pts 89.9% 89.7% –

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 Donora?

Owners occupy 53.2% of Donora's occupied homes and renters 46.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $62,300 by its owner (±$9,349). The median renter pays $916 a month including utilities, and 43.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure DonoraWashington CountyPennsylvania Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $62,300 ±$9,349 $228,500 $254,500 no clear change
Median gross rent $916 ±$98 $949 $1,209 +$210
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 43.1% ±18.0 pts 31.8% 39.5% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $962 ±$66 $1,618 $1,762 –
Owner-occupied homes 53.2% ±10.6 pts 76.1% 69.3% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 46.8% ±10.6 pts 23.9% 30.7% –
Housing units 2,884 ±272 97,923 5,806,452 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 6.5% ±5.4 pts 1.3% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 2.4% ±3.8 pts 6.4% 4.9% –
Single-family detached homes 72.6% ±7.2 pts 73.6% 56.6% –
Mobile homes 1.0% ±1.4 pts 5.4% 3.5% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±1.1 pts 1.7% 1.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 3.2% ±3.0 pts 6.8% 5.1% –
Built 1939 or earlier 49.6% ±9.0 pts 26.0% 25.0% –
Households with no vehicle 19.3% ±6.8 pts 7.3% 10.4% –

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 Donora building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Donora in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 0 units
  • 2021 1 units
  • 2022 1 units
  • 2023 0 units
  • 2024 0 units
  • 2025 0 units

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 Donora work and get to work?

77.3% of Donora's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 31.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 12.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure DonoraWashington CountyPennsylvania Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 58.1% ±6.5 pts 61.3% 62.7% –
Unemployment rate 12.7% ±6.8 pts 4.8% 5.3% no clear change
Drove alone to work 77.3% ±9.6 pts 75.2% 68.2% –
Carpooled 5.6% ±4.8 pts 6.1% 7.5% –
Public transportation 5.1% ±4.8 pts 0.7% 3.6% –
Walked 3.3% ±4.4 pts 1.8% 3.3% –
Worked from home 8.1% ±6.7 pts 15.0% 15.6% –
Mean travel time to work 31.0 min ±3.7 26.8 min 26.3 min no clear change

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 Donora?

2 census tracts lie mostly in Donora (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $37,500 (Tract 7753) to $44,931 (Tract 7752).

Census tracts in Donora, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Donora
Tract 7753Washington County2,339 $37,500 $51,500100%
Tract 7752Washington County2,188 $44,931 $70,900100%

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 Donora) · Census block assignment files

How does Donora compare with other places in Pennsylvania?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Donora is the 5,229th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 222nd-most populous of 1,012 in Pennsylvania.

Donora ranks 2,113th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Donora's rank in Pennsylvania (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate222nd1,012
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)1,323rd1,764
Residents per square mile518th2,159
Median household income2,113th2,136
Per capita income1,909th2,157
Median home value2,130th2,146
Median gross rent1,292nd1,963
Poverty rate31st1,606
Bachelor's degree or higher1,985th2,129
Median age528th2,157
Owner-occupied share1,964th2,149
Travel time to work364th2,156

Donora's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)

Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Donora 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 Donora?

19 of the 57 figures for Donora 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 Donora 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 Donora.