Population 16,188 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Potter County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Potter County
Household size in Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Potter County is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.37 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.6 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.5 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.1 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.5 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Potter County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.6, mirroring the country.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Potter County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Potter County
Renters in Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.8% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Potter County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly six in ten owners (56.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 3.6 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 40.8% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.3% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 34.3% of the housing in Potter County, 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. Few Pennsylvania counties have a higher vacancy rate: only two of 67.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Potter County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $575 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $609 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $689 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $821 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$246 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in Potter County pays $821 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $246 a month since 2006–10, up 43%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Potter County
Bachelor's degrees in Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.1% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Potter County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.1%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.7 points, mirroring the country. Only six of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.7% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Potter County have finished high school (91.4%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Pennsylvania as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Potter County
| Period | Potter County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Potter County than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Potter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potter County | 2.31 | 47.5 | 8.5% | 20.3% | 34.3% | 1967 | $821 | 18.1% | 91.4% | 4.0% |
| McKean County | 2.28 | 44.7 | 10.4% | 22.0% | 14.6% | 1955 | $842 | 21.2% | 92.4% | 4.7% |
| Tioga County | 2.38 | 45.4 | 8.9% | 22.6% | 19.9% | 1967 | $902 | 22.8% | 92.3% | 4.5% |
| Warren County | 2.35 | 46.9 | 8.1% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 1958 | $768 | 20.1% | 93.2% | 4.2% |
| Bradford County | 2.46 | 44.7 | 9.3% | 27.8% | 16.3% | 1967 | $954 | 21.0% | 90.8% | 6.3% |
| Susquehanna County | 2.45 | 48.1 | 9.4% | 21.5% | 26.0% | 1972 | $998 | 19.3% | 91.0% | 5.8% |
| Ashtabula County | 2.47 | 42.7 | 13.1% | 24.3% | 13.3% | 1963 | $830 | 15.9% | 87.0% | 5.7% |
| Ulster County | 2.35 | 45.3 | 9.8% | 30.1% | 13.3% | 1966 | $1,495 | 39.5% | 92.5% | 5.1% |
| Litchfield County | 2.43 | 46.6 | 8.7% | 23.0% | 12.4% | 1967 | $1,383 | 38.9% | 94.3% | 5.1% |
| Hartford County | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.8% | 35.1% | 7.3% | 1966 | $1,572 | 40.8% | 90.8% | 5.4% |
| Monroe County | 2.51 | 43.6 | 10.3% | 18.3% | 6.7% | 1975 | $1,076 | 23.5% | 91.8% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Dawson County, MT · Taylor County, GA · Tallahatchie County, MS · Switzerland County, IN · Swisher County, TX · Surry County, VA · Dickenson County, VA · Desha County, AR · Dent County, MO · DeKalb County, MO
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 Potter 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.