City · Pennsylvania
Oil City, Pennsylvania
Oil City, city, in Venango County, Pennsylvania. Oil City had 9,301 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,613 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,468 (±40). GEOID 4256456.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,301
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,613 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,468 ±40
Median household income
$51,316
±$6,404 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$74,100
±$6,554 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$821
±$57 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Oil City and what county is it in?
Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania. It covers 4.5 square miles of land, 2,140 residents per square mile in 2020.
Oil City is in the Oil City, PA micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Oil City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,301 people lived in Oil City on July 1, 2025, down 3.2% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. The 2020 Census counted 9,613 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,468 (±40).
| Measure | Oil City | Venango County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,468 ±40 | 49,801 | −378 |
| Households | 3,908 ±200 | 21,397 | −327 |
| Average household size | 2.35 ±0.12 | 2.28 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,603 ±212 | 26,244 | −406 |
Oil City's population since 2000
From 11,504 in 2000 to 9,301 in 2025: down 19.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Oil City 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.
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 Oil City?
The median resident of Oil City is 40.3 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.4%.
| Measure | Oil City | Venango County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 ±3.8 | 47.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.9% ±2.1 pts | 19.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.5% ±2.2 pts | 24.8% | – |
| Male | 51.1% ±2.2 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.5% ±2.1 pts | 93.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.9 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.5% ±1.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.4% ±0.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.9% ±1.9 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 18.0% ±2.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.7% ±1.3 pts | 4.4% | −4.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±2.9 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.5% ±3.0 pts | 19.1% | −6.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.3% ±2.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.0% ±5.1 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Oil City earn?
Half of Oil City's 3,908 households earn less than $51,316 a year (±$6,404), against $61,522 in Venango County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $48,920 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Oil City | Venango County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,316 ±$6,404 | $61,522 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,934 ±$5,399 | $75,995 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,220 ±$1,962 | $32,994 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.6% ±4.1 pts | 13.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.0% ±9.4 pts | 20.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 31.9% ±4.5 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.5% ±2.6 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.9% ±2.9 pts | 88.3% | – |
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 Oil City?
Owners occupy 61.3% of Oil City's occupied homes and renters 38.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $74,100 by its owner (±$6,554). The median renter pays $821 a month including utilities, and 46.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Oil City | Venango County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $74,100 ±$6,554 | $119,800 | +$10,473 |
| Median gross rent | $821 ±$57 | $795 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.8% ±9.5 pts | 36.4% | +13.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $968 ±$108 | $1,149 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.3% ±4.5 pts | 75.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.7% ±4.5 pts | 24.7% | – |
| Housing units | 4,603 ±212 | 26,244 | −406 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.0% ±3.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4% ±4.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.9% ±4.1 pts | 78.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.6% ±2.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 58.6% ±4.7 pts | 32.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 15.0% ±3.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
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 Oil City building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Oil City in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.
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 Oil City work and get to work?
76.5% of Oil City's workers drive alone and 5.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.
| Measure | Oil City | Venango County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.9% ±3.6 pts | 55.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±2.3 pts | 5.6% | −3.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 76.5% ±5.6 pts | 78.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.9% ±4.7 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 2.9% ±2.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.1% ±2.6 pts | 8.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.7 min ±1.9 | 23.1 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 Oil City?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Oil City (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $41,543 (Tract 2007) to $59,702 (Tract 2010).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2010Venango County | 3,000 | $59,702 |
| Tract 2008Venango County | 2,627 | $52,275 |
| Tract 2009Venango County | 2,273 | $52,258 |
| Tract 2007Venango County | 1,568 | $41,543 |
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 Oil City) · Census block assignment files
How does Oil City compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Oil City is the 3,376th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 79th-most populous of 1,012 in Pennsylvania.
Oil City ranks 1,974th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 79th | 1,012 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,496th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 590th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 1,974th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 1,975th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 2,120th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 1,564th | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 280th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,770th | 2,129 |
| Median age | 1,558th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,804th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 1,650th | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 2,037th | 2,156 |
Oil City's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Oil City 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 Oil City?
12 of the 57 figures for Oil City 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 Oil City 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 Oil City.