Census tract · Columbia County
Census Tract 501, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Census Tract 501, GEOID 42037050100, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, partly within Fishing Creek Township, Benton Township, Columbia County, Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, Jackson Township, Columbia County, Benton, Stillwater, Jonestown, Columbia County, Jamison City and Waller. 5,207 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±258); the 2020 Census counted 5,377.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,207
±258 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,377
Median household income
$69,015
±$5,323 (90% margin)
Columbia County: $64,644
Median home value
$224,500
±$10,306 (90% margin)
Columbia County: $206,200
Median gross rent
$907
±$95 (90% margin)
Columbia County: $943
Where is Census Tract 501?
Census Tract 501 is one of 16 census tracts in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. It covers 96.38 square miles of land, 56 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 42037050100, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Fishing Creek Township | 28% |
| Benton Township, Columbia County | 24% |
| Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County | 19% |
| Jackson Township, Columbia County | 13% |
| Benton | 11% |
| Stillwater | 6% |
| Jonestown, Columbia County | 3% |
| Jamison City | 2% |
| Waller | 1% |
6 census tracts border Census Tract 501: Tract 502 ($67,727), Tract 504 ($77,448), Tract 505 ($68,843), Tract 2159 in Luzerne County ($64,939), Tract 106 in Lycoming County ($82,841) and Tract 9602.02 in Sullivan County ($66,429). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 501?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 501's population at 5,207 (±258) in 2,200 households; the 2020 Census counted 5,377 residents and 2,873 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 501 | Columbia County |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,207 ±258 | 65,362 |
| Households | 2,200 ±113 | 26,350 |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.10 | 2.33 |
| Housing units | 2,862 ±132 | 29,824 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 501?
The median resident of Census Tract 501 is 51.2 years old; 17.1% are under 18 and 26.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.4%. 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 501 | Columbia County |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 ±2.8 | 41.0 |
| Under 18 years | 17.1% ±1.7 pts | 17.6% |
| 65 years and over | 26.2% ±2.6 pts | 20.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.3% ±0.7 pts | 4.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.8% ±2.1 pts | 90.5% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.7% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±0.8 pts | 0.2% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±2.0 pts | 2.3% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% |
| Born outside the United States | 3.3% ±1.0 pts | 2.8% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.0% ±1.1 pts | 3.1% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±1.4 pts | 6.2% |
| With a disability | 17.8% ±2.1 pts | 15.1% |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.0% ±0.9 pts | 4.0% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.2% ±1.8 pts | 92.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.0% ±2.1 pts | 26.6% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.5% ±1.4 pts | 10.8% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.5% ±1.4 pts | 88.7% |
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 Census Tract 501 earn?
Half of the 2,200 households in Census Tract 501 earn less than $69,015 a year (±$5,323), against $64,644 across Columbia County: 5th highest of the county's 16 tracts with a reliable estimate. 9.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 501 | Columbia County |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,015 ±$5,323 | $64,644 |
| Mean household income | $90,221 ±$8,094 | $81,045 |
| Per capita income | $37,978 ±$3,244 | $33,218 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.1% ±2.4 pts | 13.7% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.6% ±4.3 pts | 12.9% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.8% ±3.4 pts | 10.7% |
| Households with a computer | 92.9% ±2.2 pts | 92.9% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.1% ±2.5 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 Census Tract 501?
Owners occupy 80.2% of Census Tract 501's occupied homes and renters 19.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,500 by its owner (±$10,306). The median renter pays $907 a month including utilities, and 41.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 501 | Columbia County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $224,500 ±$10,306 | $206,200 |
| Median gross rent | $907 ±$95 | $943 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.8% ±16.9 pts | 32.0% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,492 ±$87 | $1,445 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.2% ±3.4 pts | 69.5% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.8% ±3.4 pts | 30.5% |
| Housing units | 2,862 ±132 | 29,824 |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.0% ±3.3 pts | 69.2% |
| Mobile homes | 10.6% ±2.5 pts | 8.1% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.7% ±2.6 pts | 5.1% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 26.0% ±3.4 pts | 24.4% |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.7% ±1.9 pts | 7.3% |
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 Census Tract 501 get to work?
75.9% of Census Tract 501's workers drive alone and 14.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.
| Measure | Tract 501 | Columbia County |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.9% ±3.6 pts | 59.1% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% ±1.7 pts | 6.0% |
| Drove alone to work | 75.9% ±4.3 pts | 75.7% |
| Carpooled | 6.6% ±2.2 pts | 7.2% |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% |
| Walked | 1.4% ±0.9 pts | 3.2% |
| Worked from home | 14.7% ±3.9 pts | 12.9% |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min ±1.5 | 21.7 min |
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
How does Census Tract 501 compare with the other tracts in Columbia County?
Among Columbia County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 501 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Columbia County |
|---|---|
| Population | 4th of 16 |
| Residents per square mile | 15th of 16 |
| Median household income | 5th of 16 |
| Per capita income | 5th of 16 |
| Median home value | 6th of 16 |
| Median gross rent | 10th of 16 |
| Poverty rate | 12th of 15 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14th of 16 |
| Median age | 1st of 16 |
| Owner-occupied share | 5th of 16 |
The tracts next to it on Columbia County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 509 | 2nd | $86,397±$5,681 |
| Tract 504 | 3rd | $77,448±$6,691 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 515 | 4th | $71,555±$6,334 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 501 | 5th | $69,015±$5,323 |
| Tract 505 | 6th | $68,843±$8,805 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 508 | 7th | $68,735±$5,534 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 502 | 8th | $67,727±$5,827 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 501?
2 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 501 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.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections