City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Nicholson, PA

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

628
Residents
$66,111
Median income
$185,900
Median home
$1,045
Median rent (state)

Nicholson - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Nicholson lands in the 45th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

45th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Nicholson, PA

Nicholson is a small town in Pennsylvania, home to 628 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Nicholson households earn a median of $66,111 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.9%. Nicholson's housing stock carries a median value of $185,900, and the median resident age is 33.4 years. 21.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Nicholson (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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 $1,045 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 53.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

628 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$66,111 /yr

Poverty 14.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Nicholson compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities

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

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 Nicholson'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.

45thIncome percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Nicholson's home value compares nationally

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

$185,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Nicholson $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 - Nicholson, PA Nicholson, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Nicholson, 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 Nicholson, PA median $66,111/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%
Nicholson, 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 Nicholson, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.0%

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

Population
628
Median Income
$66,111
Median Home Value
$185,900
Median Age
33.4
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Labor force participation
64.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.2%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
680 residents700 residents720 residents740 residents 202020212022202320242025 696 residents 726 residents ▲ +4.3%
Nicholson'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 4
2020 0
2021 0
2022 12
2023 12
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.0%
Carpool
12.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
5.6%
Other
0.7%

Based on 287 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 Nicholson sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,045/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
53.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Lanesboro
628 people
Shickshinny
627 people
Mertztown
630 people
New Jerusalem
631 people
West Decatur
624 people
Cambridge
623 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Nicholson's 628 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Vicksburg, AZ
628 people
Dustin Acres, CA
628 people
Manton, CA
628 people
Matheny, CA
628 people
Dover, ID
628 people
Benham, KY
628 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Nicholson's $66,111 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Dakota City, IA
$66,111 median income
Gunnison, UT
$66,111 median income
Alta, IA
$66,118 median income
Lake View, IA
$66,118 median income
Mount Clare, IL
$66,125 median income
Roxana, IL
$66,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Nicholson, 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 Nicholson, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.1% White 95.2% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.0% 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 Nicholson 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
Nicholson (this city) 628 $66,111
Lanesboro 628 $33,194
Shickshinny 627 $42,813
Mertztown 630 $64,318
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Nicholson, PA?

What is the population of Nicholson, PA? +

Nicholson, PA counts 628 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Nicholson runs $66,111, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Nicholson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Nicholson; 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.

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

Homes in Nicholson carry a median value of $185,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.