Census-designated place · Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, census-designated place, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Mountain Top had 11,850 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±397). GEOID 4251384.
Residents, 2020-2024
11,850
±397 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 11,489
Median household income
$109,535
±$9,100 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$297,700
±$18,750 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$849
±$45 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Mountain Top and what county is it in?
Mountain Top is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It covers 15.0 square miles of land, 765 residents per square mile in 2020.
Mountain Top is in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Mountain Top lies partly within Fairview Township (Luzerne County) and reaches into Wright Township and Rice Township, towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Mountain Top, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Mountain Top's population at 11,850 (±397). The 2020 Census counted 11,489 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Mountain Top is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Mountain Top | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,850 ±397 | 327,675 | no clear change |
| Households | 4,618 ±228 | 135,055 | +551 |
| Average household size | 2.53 ±0.11 | 2.35 | −0.26 |
| Housing units | 4,676 ±231 | 151,287 | +332 |
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 Mountain Top?
The median resident of Mountain Top is 45.0 years old; 25.0% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.7%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 4.8%. 4.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Mountain Top | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 ±2.3 | 42.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.0% ±2.5 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.5% ±2.1 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 50.5% ±2.1 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6% ±1.6 pts | 17.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.7% ±2.8 pts | 74.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.8% ±1.9 pts | 1.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.2% ±2.1 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.5% ±2.6 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.0% ±2.3 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 9.3% ±2.8 pts | 16.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.7% ±1.3 pts | 6.6% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.2% ±1.2 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 45.6% ±5.2 pts | 25.3% | +6.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.5% ±3.9 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.9% ±2.5 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
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 Mountain Top earn?
Half of Mountain Top's 4,618 households earn less than $109,535 a year (±$9,100), against $63,691 in Luzerne County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $105,298 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Mountain Top | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,535 ±$9,100 | $63,691 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $139,795 ±$17,811 | $86,447 | – |
| Per capita income | $55,506 ±$7,440 | $36,493 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.8% ±3.5 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.9% ±7.1 pts | 24.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.3% ±4.8 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.5% ±2.3 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.5% ±2.6 pts | 87.8% | – |
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 Mountain Top?
Owners occupy 89.3% of Mountain Top's occupied homes and renters 10.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $297,700 by its owner (±$18,750). The median renter pays $849 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Mountain Top | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $297,700 ±$18,750 | $174,100 | +$37,039 |
| Median gross rent | $849 ±$45 | $1,004 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 11.0% ±9.1 pts | 38.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,073 ±$115 | $1,475 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 89.3% ±4.7 pts | 67.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 10.7% ±4.7 pts | 32.2% | – |
| Housing units | 4,676 ±231 | 151,287 | +332 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±6.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 84.6% ±4.9 pts | 64.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±1.9 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.5% ±3.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.2% ±2.5 pts | 30.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.1% ±1.0 pts | 9.5% | – |
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 do people in Mountain Top work and get to work?
72.8% of Mountain Top's workers drive alone and 22.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Mountain Top | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.2% ±3.6 pts | 60.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% ±1.8 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.8% ±5.3 pts | 74.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6% ±2.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 22.1% ±5.1 pts | 10.9% | +17.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.5 min ±3.3 | 23.5 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 Mountain Top?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Mountain Top, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $96,500 (Tract 2155.01) to $124,000 (Tract 2155.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2155.02Luzerne County | 5,762 | $124,000 |
| Tract 2155.01Luzerne County | 4,733 | $96,500 |
| Tract 2155.03Luzerne County | 3,701 | $110,511 |
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 Mountain Top) · Census block assignment files
How does Mountain Top compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
Mountain Top ranks 318th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 227th | 2,159 |
| Residents per square mile | 1,035th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 318th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 283rd | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 539th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 1,482nd | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 1,234th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 317th | 2,129 |
| Median age | 931st | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 465th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 247th | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 946th | 2,156 |
Mountain Top's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Mountain Top 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 Mountain Top?
14 of the 57 figures for Mountain Top 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 Mountain Top 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' school search.