RANK #444 / 1001 NAT · #19 / 44 PA · POP 60,621
1YR FORECAST: +6.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: -4%
Milford, the county seat, offers a glimpse into Pike County's distinctive character with its historic district featuring late 19th and early 20th-century buildings. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania, Pike County borders both New York and New Jersey, making it a gateway to the Pocono Mountains region. Commuting to northern New Jersey or New York City suburbs is common, though many residents experience drives exceeding an hour. The community embraces a quieter pace of life, surrounded by extensive state and federal forest, park, and game lands, including a significant portion of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, with hiking, fishing, canoeing on the Delaware River, and skiing at local mountains.
Life in Pike County often appeals to those seeking a rural environment with access to nature. Many residents are families and retirees, some of whom relocated from New York and New Jersey for more affordable housing and lower taxes. The economy is largely driven by tourism and hospitality, with a growing presence of remote workers. While the county has seen significant population growth, efforts are underway to diversify the economic landscape beyond its traditional sectors, with investments flowing into technology infrastructure, such as data centers. Local public schools, such as Delaware Valley High School and Shohola Elementary School, are generally well-regarded.
Pike County is one of 35 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.2% runs above the profile's typical +1.4%.
See all 35 Secondary Market Surge counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 29.0x — 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: 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
AI Data Center and Natural Gas Power Plant
SoftBank
|
$33,000M | Under Construction |
|
Mega Warehouse at I-84 Site
National Land Developers
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Pike County scores 55/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#444). Median household income is $81,323 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 Pike County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $272,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,378/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Pike County's population is growing — up +1.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.7%). Home values shifted +3.2% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
Not particularly — 1.71% of Pike County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.