RANK #528 / 1001 NAT · #28 / 44 PA · POP 82,716
1YR FORECAST: +2.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Pymatuning State Park, home to Pennsylvania's largest lake, is a major draw in Crawford County, a region in northwestern Pennsylvania known for its outdoor recreation. The county is approximately two hours from major cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo, offering a balance of rural living with access to urban amenities. Commutes within the county are short, with Meadville averaging around 14 minutes. The area's natural beauty, including French Creek and numerous other lakes and streams, provides opportunities for kayaking, fishing, hiking, and biking.
Life in Crawford County often centers on its small towns and natural surroundings. The community is characterized by a strong sense of local identity, with many residents owning their homes. Educational options include the Crawford Central School District in Meadville, along with other districts like Titusville Area and Conneaut School District. The economy is supported by manufacturing, with companies like C&J Industries expanding operations. Efforts are also underway to revitalize downtown areas in towns like Meadville and Titusville through state investments.
Crawford County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +7.6% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.4x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Crawford County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Crawford County scores 47/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#528). Median household income is $60,476 and job growth is running at -0.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Crawford County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $153,200, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $802/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Crawford County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.3% employment change). Home values are +7.6% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.1% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Crawford County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +7.6% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Crawford County is now valued at $153,200. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.