Coal
RANK #366 / 996 NAT · #17 / 44 PA · POP 91,340
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
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.
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — 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 →
| 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 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, Northumberland County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $55,952 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in PA.
By national standards, Northumberland County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $141,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $751/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Northumberland County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.4% employment change). Home values are +6.9% 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 3.25% 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.
Home values climbed +6.9% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Northumberland County is now valued at $141,300. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.