Williamsport
RANK #537 / 996 NAT · #24 / 44 PA · POP 114,022
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Little League Baseball, with Williamsport hosting the annual Little League World Series, drawing global attention each August. Located in north-central Pennsylvania, the county is about 177 miles from Philadelphia and 165 miles from Pittsburgh. It offers a blend of small-city living in Williamsport, the county seat, and a more rural feel in its surrounding towns like Montoursville, Muncy, and Jersey Shore. The landscape features mountains, valleys, and waterways like the West Branch Susquehanna River and Pine Creek Gorge, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking on the Pine Creek Rail Trail, fishing, and kayaking. Rider Park, an 867-acre preserve, offers miles of trails for various low-impact activities.
Life in Lycoming County offers a manageable pace and a relatively affordable cost of living. The community includes families, young professionals, and retirees, with a notable percentage of residents owning their homes. Public schools in the county generally perform above average, with districts like Loyalsock Township and Montoursville Area among those serving the area. Commute options include local public transit provided by River Valley Transit Authority in the greater Williamsport area, and shared-ride services through STEP Transportation for wider county access. The economy, historically rooted in lumber and agriculture, has diversified into manufacturing, energy, and healthcare. Recent developments include investments in manufacturing, such as PMF Industries expanding into the clean hydrogen market, and a new Bass Pro Shops retail superstore planned for the former Lycoming Mall site, anticipated to boost tourism and create jobs.
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.4x — 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Lycoming County scores 46/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#537). Median household income is $63,437 and job growth is running at +0.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Lycoming County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $182,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $886/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Lycoming County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs +0.7%. Home values shifted +4.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.91% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lycoming County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.