Population 43,864 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Jefferson County is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.50, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Jefferson County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Jefferson County (9.5%), below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Jefferson County rent their homes (25.1%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 55.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the north. The renter share has risen 1.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Jefferson County: 14.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.6 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Jefferson County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $548 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $583 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $674 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $804 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$256 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jefferson County costs $804 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $256 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Jefferson County: 18.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.3% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Jefferson County have finished high school (91.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Pennsylvania. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.2 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jefferson County runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Jefferson County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 14.7% | 1961 | $804 | 18.2% | 91.9% | 4.2% |
| Clearfield County | 2.30 | 46.4 | 8.4% | 21.5% | 14.7% | 1968 | $821 | 21.6% | 91.1% | 5.4% |
| Clarion County | 2.39 | 43.0 | 8.2% | 27.5% | 17.1% | 1964 | $793 | 24.2% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Lawrence County | 2.32 | 45.6 | 10.8% | 24.2% | 9.5% | 1959 | $949 | 23.9% | 92.3% | 5.8% |
| Clinton County | 2.38 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 27.7% | 14.6% | 1967 | $899 | 21.4% | 90.4% | 5.3% |
| Mahoning County | 2.29 | 43.6 | 12.2% | 29.7% | 9.9% | 1965 | $883 | 27.1% | 91.5% | 6.7% |
| Union County | 2.46 | 43.6 | 13.9% | 27.7% | 11.1% | 1970 | $1,058 | 32.5% | 88.1% | 2.0% |
| Portage County | 2.38 | 41.1 | 8.5% | 29.9% | 9.3% | 1978 | $1,090 | 35.2% | 93.2% | 5.0% |
| Montour County | 2.26 | 42.7 | 9.8% | 31.5% | 4.0% | 1974 | $1,114 | 38.6% | 93.8% | 3.0% |
| Summit County | 2.37 | 42.6 | 11.8% | 32.5% | 7.7% | 1968 | $1,210 | 36.0% | 92.7% | 5.3% |
| Columbia County | 2.36 | 42.5 | 7.4% | 30.5% | 11.7% | 1968 | $966 | 27.1% | 92.7% | 5.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: St. Martin Parish, LA · Dale County, AL · Dallas County, AL · Dare County, NC · Darke County, OH · Davie County, NC · Dearborn County, IN · DeKalb County, IN · Dickson County, TN · Douglas County, NV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Jefferson County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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