Meadville
RANK #33 / 996 NAT · #2 / 44 PA · POP 83,876
1YR FORECAST: +3.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +41%
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.
Below national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.0x 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Crawford County ranks #33 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 97/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.8% year-over-year). Median household income here is $58,734.
By national standards, Crawford County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $136,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.43 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $769/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Crawford County is losing population (-0.7% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.8% employment change). Home values are +7.2% 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 3.24% 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 +7.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Crawford County is now valued at $136,000. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.