County · Pennsylvania

Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Carbon County had 65,868 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.7% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). It holds 29 places (12 cities, villages and boroughs, 11 towns and townships and 6 census-designated) and 17 census tracts. GEOID 42025.

Carbon County is one of the 4 counties of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

65,868

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 64,749 · ACS 2020-2024: 65,382

Median household income

$67,554

±$3,356 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971

Median home value

$211,400

±$6,685 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500

Median gross rent

$994

±$42 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209

How many people live in Carbon County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 64,749 residents in Carbon County. The Census Bureau estimates 65,868 for July 1, 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 65,382 over 381 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +793 (65,558)
2021→2022 −73 (65,485)
2022→2023 −42 (65,443)
2023→2024 +266 (65,709)
2024→2025 +159 (65,868)

Carbon County in Pennsylvania. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Carbon County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	65,382	13,018,639	+1,495
Households	27,255±500	5,274,853	+1,212
Average household size	2.37±0.04	2.39	no clear change
Housing units	34,417±64	5,806,452	−378

Carbon County's population since 2000

From 58,802 in 2000 to 65,868 in 2025: up 12.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 58,802
2005 (estimate) 62,358
2010 Census 65,249
2015 (estimate) 63,766
2020 Census 64,749
2025 (estimate) 65,868

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Carbon County?

Carbon County holds 29 places: 12 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 11 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Penn Forest Township with 10,434 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Carbon County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Penn Forest Township	township	9,926	10,157±24	$67,045	$250,100	10.6%	100%
Palmerton	borough	5,593	5,622±21	$68,143	$180,000	15.9%	100%
Lehighton	borough	5,248	5,268±16	$64,651	$213,600	12.9%	100%
Jim Thorpe	borough	4,507	4,540±26	$72,904	$209,800	7.6%	100%
Towamensing Township	township	4,427	4,514±18	$69,245	$249,400	6.5%	100%
Franklin Township, Carbon County	township	4,356	4,396±24	$88,924	$234,700	7.1%	100%
Mahoning Township, Carbon County	township	4,261	4,296±29	$71,881	$241,300	7.3%	100%
Lansford	borough	4,141	4,156±24	$44,713	$55,800	23.8%	100%
Nesquehoning	borough	3,336	3,344±18	$61,354	$122,500	12.9%	100%
Summit Hill	borough	3,120	3,137±17	$65,268	$99,700	24.0%	100%
Lower Towamensing Township	township	3,046	3,076±19	$68,789	$232,400	8.8%	100%
East Penn Township	township	2,748	2,778±15	$70,294	$228,500	10.1%	100%
Weatherly	borough	2,541	2,551±17	$52,125	$163,200	22.2%	100%
Towamensing TrailsGEOID 4277163	CDP	2,317	1,716±440	$81,429	$308,400	6.8%	100%
Kidder Township	township	1,791	1,862±314	$78,854	$270,800	6.4%	100%
Indian Mountain Lake	CDP	4,733	3,889±572	$71,547	$208,100	15.4%	37%
Weissport EastGEOID 4282088	CDP	1,661	1,646±381	$54,837	$193,500	10.3%	100%
Banks Township, Carbon County	township	1,164	1,040±247	$63,875	$119,700	10.3%	100%
Packer Township	township	1,029	829±125	$77,981	$239,500	5.1%	100%
Beaver Meadows	borough	897	730±127	$52,768	$133,700	19.5%	100%
Bowmanstown	borough	889	968±220	$68,365	$191,900	8.4%	100%
Tresckow	CDP	849	696±224	$87,813	$158,000	3.0%	100%
Holiday PoconoGEOID 4235172	CDP	583	743±279	$62,333	$206,900	5.4%	100%
Lehigh Township, Carbon County	township	425	330±74	$62,500	$202,000	14.4%	100%
Parryville	borough	416	445±169	$62,250	$180,300	5.6%	100%
Weissport	borough	413	506±161	$66,875	$77,900	15.4%	100%
East Side	borough	247	457±87	not published	$125,000	50.1%	100%
Lausanne TownshipGEOID 4202541888	township	228	380±168	$95,417	$227,400	3.4%	100%
AlbrightsvilleGEOID 4200652	CDP	138	85±102	not published	not published	41.3%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Carbon County?

The median resident of Carbon County is 46.3 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 22.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.9%. 3.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Carbon County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	46.3±0.4	40.9	no clear change
Under 18 years	18.9%	20.4%	–
65 years and over	22.6%±0.2 pts	19.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.9%	8.7%	+2.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	87.9%±0.6 pts	73.0%	−3.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.3 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.1 pts	3.8%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.6%±0.6 pts	3.6%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	3.7%±0.6 pts	7.7%	+1.0 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.3%±0.9 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.0%±0.9 pts	6.1%	–
With a disability	17.1%±1.3 pts	14.4%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.8%±1.0 pts	5.6%	+1.6 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	90.5%±1.2 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.2%±1.6 pts	35.2%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.0%±1.0 pts	14.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.5 pts	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 Carbon County earn?

Half of Carbon County's 27,255 households earn less than $67,554 a year (±$3,356), against $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $70,157 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carbon County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$67,554±$3,356	$77,971	no clear change
Mean household income	$85,706±$3,262	$107,538	–
Per capita income	$36,548±$1,369	$44,355	no clear change
People below the poverty line	12.3%±1.3 pts	11.7%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	20.1%±3.5 pts	15.6%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	15.6%±1.7 pts	14.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.7%±1.7 pts	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 Carbon County?

Owners occupy 76.4% of Carbon County's occupied homes and renters 23.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,400 by its owner (±$6,685). The median renter pays $994 a month including utilities, and 36.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carbon County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$211,400±$6,685	$254,500	+$31,226
Median gross rent	$994±$42	$1,209	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.7%±5.3 pts	39.5%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,535±$62	$1,762	–
Owner-occupied homes	76.4%±2.1 pts	69.3%	no clear change
Housing units	34,417±64	5,806,452	−378
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.4%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	13.3%±4.0 pts	4.9%	–
Single-family detached homes	68.8%±1.6 pts	56.6%	–
Mobile homes	4.2%±0.8 pts	3.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.2%±0.2 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	29.6%±1.6 pts	25.0%	–

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 Carbon County building?

Builders took permits for 195 new housing units across Carbon County in 2025 (175 single-family), 3.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 69 units
2020 110 units
2021 144 units
2022 145 units
2023 171 units
2024 157 units
2025 195 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Carbon County get to work?

76.5% of Carbon County's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carbon County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	60.9%±1.2 pts	62.7%	–
Unemployment rate	7.5%±1.2 pts	5.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.5%±2.6 pts	68.2%	–
Carpooled	10.5%±1.9 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.2 pts	3.6%	–
Walked	2.1%±0.8 pts	3.3%	–
Worked from home	10.1%±1.6 pts	15.6%	+5.5 pts
Mean travel time to work	32.5 min±1.1	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 are Carbon County's census tracts?

Carbon County is divided into 17 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $44,713 (Tract 204) to $80,545 (Tract 207).

Census tracts of Carbon County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 201.0242025020102	Jim Thorpe	4,507	4,540±26	$72,904	$209,800	$908	7.6%
Tract 201.0342025020103	–	3,721	4,640±429	$61,231	$258,100	$1,403	9.4%
Tract 201.0642025020106	Holiday Pocono (23%)	2,038	2,319±287	$74,598	$250,700	$1,007	15.1%
Tract 201.0742025020107	Indian Mountain Lake (46%)	3,481	3,499±372	$69,773	$218,400	$1,281	13.6%
Tract 201.0842025020108	Towamensing Trails (75%)	2,724	2,018±432	$78,393	$315,900	not published	8.1%
Tract 202.0142025020201	Weatherly (69%)	3,194	3,261±197	$62,125	$170,600	$916	19.0%
Tract 202.0242025020202	Tresckow (42%)	3,090	2,599±270	$65,234	$168,100	$1,289	11.2%
Tract 203.0142025020301	Nesquehoning	3,336	3,344±18	$61,354	$122,500	$1,117	12.9%
Tract 203.0242025020302	Summit Hill	3,120	3,137±17	$65,268	$99,700	$1,279	24.0%
Tract 20442025020400	Lansford	4,141	4,156±24	$44,713	$55,800	$922	23.8%
Tract 205.0142025020501	–	4,261	4,296±29	$71,881	$241,300	$1,155	7.3%
Tract 205.0242025020502	–	2,748	2,778±15	$70,294	$228,500	$1,114	10.1%
Tract 20642025020600	Lehighton	5,248	5,268±16	$64,651	$213,600	$1,019	12.9%
Tract 20742025020700	Weissport East (22%)	5,185	5,347±230	$80,545	$226,100	$937	7.8%
Tract 208.0142025020801	Bowmanstown (29%)	3,935	4,044±223	$68,738	$221,300	$1,003	8.7%
Tract 208.0242025020802	–	4,427	4,514±18	$69,245	$249,400	$972	6.5%
Tract 20942025020900	Palmerton	5,593	5,622±21	$68,143	$180,000	$931	15.9%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Carbon County compare with Pennsylvania's other counties?

Carbon County's rank among Pennsylvania's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	38th of 67
Growth 2020-2025	18th of 67
Residents per square mile	30th of 67
Median household income	31st of 67
Median home value	30th of 67
Median gross rent	25th of 67
Poverty rate	27th of 67
Bachelor's degree or higher	54th of 67
Median age	15th of 67

Every county in Pennsylvania

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Carbon County 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.