RANK #428 / 1001 NAT · #24 / 44 PA · POP 90,560
1YR FORECAST: +2.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, is distinguished by Sunbury, its county seat, which holds a unique place in history as the first city in the world to be commercially lit by Thomas Edison's incandescent electric lights in 1883. Located in central Pennsylvania, the county is about an hour's drive north of Harrisburg. The community offers a blend of rural landscapes and small towns, with a commute time averaging 23.3 minutes, shorter than the national average. The Susquehanna River, a prominent natural feature, provides opportunities for outdoor recreation, including boating, fishing, and hiking at places like Shikellamy State Park, which offers scenic overlooks of the river's confluence. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) also provides 6,500 acres for motorized and non-motorized recreation.
Life in Northumberland County is characterized by a lower cost of living, particularly for housing, making homeownership accessible. The area appeals to families and retirees seeking a quieter lifestyle. Local school districts include Milton Area, Warrior Run, and Shikellamy. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and coal, is seeing new investment. Recent state initiatives are focused on developing "pad-ready" industrial sites to attract new businesses, with a particular interest in sectors like plastic manufacturing and controlled agriculture. This effort aims to create new job opportunities and strengthen the region's economic future.
Northumberland 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 +1.8% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 10.0x — 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: 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 Northumberland County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Northumberland Solar Project (Energix Renewables)
Energix Renewables
|
$78M | Under Construction |
|
Northumberland Solar PV Park (Dakota Power Partners/Enel Green Power North America)
Dakota Power Partners/Enel Green Power North America
|
$70M | Permitting |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Northumberland County scores 57/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#428). Median household income is $60,583 and job growth is running at +0.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Northumberland County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $162,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $806/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Northumberland County are both close to flat — population -0.4% YoY and jobs +0.1%. Home values shifted +1.8% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.76% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Northumberland County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.