RANK #425 / 1001 NAT · #23 / 44 PA · POP 59,858
1YR FORECAST: +2.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, is often first recognized by locals for its connection to Stephen Foster, the "father of American music," who penned "Camptown Races" after the area's historic horse races. Located in northern Pennsylvania, bordering New York, the county is part of the scenic Endless Mountains region. Its rural character means commutes are primarily by car, though public transit options exist within and between its towns like Towanda, Sayre, and Athens. The Susquehanna River winds through the county, offering extensive opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water activities, complemented by over 54,000 acres of state game land and parks like Mount Pisgah State Park.
Life in Bradford County is characterized by a strong sense of community and a lower cost of living compared to national averages. The area attracts families and retirees, with a high homeownership rate. Education is served by seven public school districts, some noted for engineering and arts programs. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture with numerous family dairy farms, has seen growth in manufacturing and the energy sector, particularly with natural gas development. These industries, alongside healthcare providers like Guthrie, contribute to the local job market.
Bradford County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.0% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Wyalusing Energy Center (Klondike Data Center Project)
KDI Wyalusing Power LLC (affiliate of New Fortress Energy Inc.)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Armenia Mountain Wind Energy Project
TRC Companies (originally developed by AES Wind Generation)
|
$180M | Operating |
|
Bradford Solar
Vesper Energy
|
$100M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Bradford County scores 57/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#425). Median household income is $63,675 and job growth is running at -0.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Bradford County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $187,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $901/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Bradford County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs -0.4%. Home values shifted +4.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.55% of Bradford County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.