Pottsville
RANK #249 / 996 NAT · #8 / 44 PA · POP 143,201
1YR FORECAST: +3.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Pottsville, home to America's oldest brewery, Yuengling, serves as the county seat and a central hub for Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Located in the east-central mountains, the county is approximately 97 miles northwest of Philadelphia and 47 miles west of Allentown. This region offers a slower pace of life compared to larger metropolitan areas, with nearly 70% of the county covered in forests, alongside rivers and streams. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, featuring three state parks—Locust Lake, Tuscarora, and Swatara—along with sections of the Appalachian Trail and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, providing opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating.
Life in Schuylkill County often appeals to those seeking affordability and a quieter community atmosphere. Commute times to nearby cities like Allentown or Reading can be around 45 minutes, while Philadelphia is about an hour and a half away. The Schuylkill Transportation System provides bus service within the county. Local public schools, such as Blue Mountain West/St. Ambrose School and Pine Grove Elementary School, are among the top-ranked in the county. The economy is driven by sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics, with ongoing investments in areas such as specialty gases manufacturing and distribution centers.
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.7x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Data Center Campus
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$20,000M | Planned |
|
KRNL Data Centers Campus
KRNL Data Centers
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
EMD Electronics Expansion
EMD Electronics
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Rattlin Run Hydropower Plant
Merchant Hydro
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center
Amazon
|
$50M | Completed |
|
Renewable Natural Gas Plant
Archaea Energy (BP) & UGI Energy Services
|
$50M | Completed |
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 75/100, Schuylkill County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.6%, and median household income stands at $63,574 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in PA.
By national standards, Schuylkill County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $127,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.50 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $801/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Schuylkill County are hiring — job growth of +1.6% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +3.2% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.03% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Schuylkill County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.