Sayre
RANK #288 / 996 NAT · #12 / 44 PA · POP 60,159
1YR FORECAST: +2.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
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.
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 1.9x — home prices are low 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.
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 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 71/100, Bradford County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $60,650 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in PA.
By national standards, Bradford County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $169,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $824/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Bradford County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.7%. Home values shifted +2.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.88% 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.