How Much Do Pennsylvania Homeowners with a Mortgage Spend on Housing?
By: Kevin Pryor June. 20, 2018
Gavop used data from the United States Census Bureau to analyze the proportion of income that homeowners in Pennsylvania spend on housing costs, especially those with a mortgage. Overall, Gavop found that Pennsylvania homeowners spend 29.9 percent of their income on housing costs, which is just one percent lower than national values.
Housing costs refer to the how much individuals spend collectively on mortgage payments, real estate taxes, home insurance, and utilities. The data showed that the annual housing costs in Pennsylvania is $16,992 for a median income of $56,907 and a median home value of $174,100.
The table below compares housing costs at the state and national levels.
| Location | % of Income Spent on Housing by Homeowners with a Mortgage | Annual Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage | Median Income | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 29.9% | $16,992 | $56,907 | $174,100 |
| United States | 30.9% | $17,832 | $57,617 | $205,000 |
Within Pennsylvania, the counties varied in how much mortgage-holding residents spent on housing costs. It is no surprise that Philadelphia residents spend the maximum proportion of their incomes on housing at 35.8 percent. Lackawanna County is next at 32.3 percent, then Indiana County at 31.8 percent, Monroe County at 31.7 percent, and Leigh County at 31.0 percent.
Counties with Highest Housing Costs as a Percentage of Income
| Rank | County | % of Income Spent on Housing by Homeowners with a Mortgage | Annual Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage | Median Income | Median Home Value | Number of Housing Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | 35.8% | $14,832 | $41,449 | $154,000 | 674,504 |
| 2 | Lackawanna | 32.3% | $15,312 | $47,475 | $152,000 | 98,711 |
| 3 | Indiana | 31.8% | $13,668 | $42,962 | $166,400 | 38,455 |
| 4 | Monroe | 31.7% | $19,044 | $60,095 | $164,200 | 80,759 |
| 5 | Lehigh | 31.0% | $18,780 | $60,498 | $198,800 | 144,222 |
Conversely, homeowners of Clearfield County spend the lowest percentage of their income on housing costs at 24.6 percent. Beaver and Mercer County are tied at 25.6 percent followed by Westmorel County at 25.7 percent, and Cambria County at 26.0 percent.
Counties with the Lowest Housing Costs as a Percentage of Income
| Rank | County | % of Income Spent on Housing Costs by Homeowners with a Mortgage | Annual Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage | Median Income | Median Home Value | Number of Housing Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearfield | 24.6% | $11,640 | $44,100 | $93,400 | 64,979 |
| 2 | Beaver | 25.6% | $14,136 | $56,722 | $149,700 | 168,230 |
| 3 | Mercer | 25.6% | $12,792 | $49,890 | $116,200 | 51,533 |
| 4 | Westmoreland | 25.7% | $14,580 | $55,221 | $137,600 | 78,256 |
| 5 | Cambria | 26.0% | $11,472 | $47,352 | $94,100 | 38,647 |
The table below shows all the counties in Pennsylvania, arranged in order of income spent on housing costs (highest to lowest).
| Location Name | Median Homeowners Costs as a 'It of Income for People with a Mortgage | Median Homeowner Costs with a Mortgage (Annual) | Median Income | Median Home Value | Total Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County. Pennsylvania | 35.8% | $14,832 | $41,449 | $154,000 | 674,504 |
| Lackawanna County. Pennsylvania | 32.3% | $15,312 | $47,475 | $152,000 | 98,711 |
| Indiana County. Pennsylvania | 31.8% | $13,668 | $42,962 | $116,400 | 38,455 |
| Monroe County. Pennsylvania | 31.7% | $19,044 | $60,095 | $164,200 | 80,759 |
| Lehigh County. Pennsylvania | 31.0% | $18,780 | $60,498 | $198,800 | 144,222 |
| Delaware County. Pennsylvania | 30.8% | $20,928 | $67,950 | $239,500 | 221,753 |
| Luzerne County. Pennsylvania | 30.6% | $14,244 | $46,580 | $123,400 | 147,888 |
| Bucks County. Pennsylvania | 30.3% | $24,192 | $79,936 | $322,400 | 247,846 |
| Berks County. Pennsylvania | 29.3% | $17,364 | $59,286 | $174,800 | 164,961 |
| Northampton County. Pennsylvania | 29.2% | $19,428 | $66,438 | $218,000 | 121,647 |
| Adams County. Pennsylvania | 29.1% | $17,268 | $59,300 | $206,900 | 41,612 |
| Lyc oming County. Pennsylvania | 28.6% | $14,052 | $49,052 | $152,800 | 52,690 |
| Centre County. Pennsylvania | 28.6% | $17,256 | $60,266 | $224,400 | 65,766 |
| Lawrence County. Pennsylvania | 28.5% | $13,392 | $46,918 | $107,200 | 40,618 |
| Lancaster County. Pennsylvania | 28.3% | $17,352 | $61,335 | $196,400 | 207,807 |
| Chester County. Pennsylvania | 28.3% | $26,124 | $92,407 | $347,700 | 197,721 |
| Blair County. Pennsylvania | 28.2% | $12,264 | $43,443 | $114,700 | 55,972 |
| Columbia County. Pennsylvania | 28.0% | $13,788 | $49,186 | $145,300 | 29,688 |
| Cumberland County. Pennsylvania | 27.9% | $17,712 | $63,530 | $200,200 | 104,201 |
| Montgomery County. Pennsylvania | 27.9% | $23,436 | $84,113 | $307,500 | 329,329 |
| Carbon County. Pennsylvania | 27.8% | $14,352 | $51,676 | $139,000 | 34,360 |
| Northumberland County. Pennsylvania | 27.8% | $13,248 | $47,736 | $118,700 | 44,791 |
| Erie County. Pennsylvania | 27.7% | $13,584 | $48,964 | $125,700 | 120,077 |
| Allegheny County. Pennsylvania | 27.7% | $15,552 | $56,140 | $147,100 | 592,265 |
| York County. Pennsylvania | 27.7% | $17,280 | $62,462 | $172,000 | 181,463 |
| Somerset County. Pennsylvania | 27.4% | $12,036 | $43,871 | $104,200 | 37,897 |
| Washington County. Pennsylvania | 27.2% | $15,756 | $57,998 | $167,100 | 94,536 |
| Dauphin County. Pennsylvania | 27.0% | $16,272 | $60,331 | $167,500 | 122,656 |
| Crawford County. Pennsylvania | 26.9% | $12,216 | $45,410 | $114,500 | 44,244 |
| Fayette County. Pennsylvania | 26.8% | $11,556 | $43,140 | $101,700 | 62,771 |
| Lebanon County. Pennsylvania | 26.7% | $15,300 | $57,248 | $168,500 | 56,637 |
| Butler County. Pennsylvania | 26.7% | $17,712 | $66,426 | $195,900 | 81,566 |
| Armstrong County. Pennsylvania | 26.7% | $12,636 | $47,398 | $94,500 | 32,300 |
| Schuylkill County. Pennsylvania | 26.4% | $13,368 | $50,684 | $97,600 | 68,822 |
| Franklin County. Pennsylvania | 26.2% | $15,840 | $60,559 | $174,700 | 64,405 |
| Cambria County. Pennsylvania | 26.0% | $11,472 | $44,100 | $93,400 | 64,979 |
| Westmoreland County. Pennsylvania | 25.7% | $14,580 | $56,722 | $149,700 | 168,230 |
| Mercer County. Pennsylvania | 25.6% | $12,792 | $49,890 | $116,200 | 51,533 |
| Beaver County. Pennsylvania | 25.6% | $14,136 | $55,221 | $137,600 | 78,256 |
| Clearfield County. Pennsylvania | 24.6% | $11,640 | $47,352 | $94,100 | 38,647 |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Pryor
Kevin Pryor currently works as a data analyst and public relations associate where he takes pride in analyzing data and sharing the amazing insights it presents to various target audiences. Kevin graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in communication and has a passion for the results that can come from effective communications. While at school, he interned with Total Mortgage, Stafford Motor Speedway and UConn Community Outreach. In his free time, Kevin enjoys outdoor activities, cinema, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
