City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Lock Haven, PA

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

8,386
Residents
$40,131
Median income
$127,500
Median home
$995
Median rent (state)

Lock Haven - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Lock Haven lands in the 8th percentile for household income and the 36th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

8th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
36th
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: Lock Haven, PA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,386 residents in Lock Haven, a small town within Pennsylvania. Median household income here is $40,131 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.0%. Typical homes in Lock Haven are valued around $127,500, and the median resident age is 26.6 years. Educational attainment runs 24.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 4 residential building permits were authorized in Lock Haven (Building Boom), up 300% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Lock Haven reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1816.9 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $995 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 51.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

8,386 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$40,131 /yr

Poverty 14.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Lock Haven compare to other US cities?

Where Lock Haven sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities
Safety 36% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Pennsylvania alone, Lock Haven ranks #338 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

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 Lock Haven'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.

8thIncome percentile
36thSafety percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income · 36th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lock Haven's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lock Haven'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 42 Avg. percentile National median
Lock Haven'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 Lock Haven's home value compares nationally

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

$127,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lock Haven $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 - Lock Haven, PA Lock Haven, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lock Haven, 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 Lock Haven, PA median $40,131/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%
Lock Haven, 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 Lock Haven, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.0%

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

Population
8,386
Median Income
$40,131
Median Home Value
$127,500
Median Age
26.6
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Labor force participation
54.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1816.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
279.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1537.4
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.

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 →
8,000 residents8,200 residents8,400 residents8,600 residents8,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,094 residents 8,500 residents ▲ +5.0%
Lock Haven's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 0
2022 0
2023 1
2024 4

Permit volume increased 300% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.0%
Carpool
8.4%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
12.4%
Work from Home
8.1%
Other
3.0%

Based on 3,594 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 Lock Haven sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$995/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
51.8 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Parkville
8,354 people
Pleasant Hills
8,418 people
Villanova
8,431 people
Doylestown
8,322 people
Mount Joy
8,310 people
Folsom
8,298 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lock Haven's 8,386 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Atmore, AL
8,389 people
Gilberts, IL
8,389 people
Crete, IL
8,382 people
Westwego, LA
8,382 people
Dayton, MN
8,381 people
Winnemucca, NV
8,391 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lock Haven's $40,131 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Florence, KS
$40,125 median income
Mellen, WI
$40,125 median income
Halfway, MO
$40,139 median income
Branchville, SC
$40,144 median income
Appleton, MN
$40,117 median income
Glenwood, AL
$40,114 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lock Haven, 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 Lock Haven, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.9% White 89.8% Black or African American 4.3% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 3.7% 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 Lock Haven 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
Lock Haven (this city) 8,386 $40,131
Parkville 8,354 $74,509
Pleasant Hills 8,418 $97,177
Villanova 8,431 $250,001
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lock Haven, PA?

What is the population of Lock Haven, PA? +

Lock Haven, PA counts 8,386 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lock Haven, PA? +

Median annual household income in Lock Haven runs $40,131, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lock Haven? +

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

Lock Haven has a total crime rate of 1816.9 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 Lock Haven, PA? +

The median home value in Lock Haven is $127,500, 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.