Bolivar Pennsylvania 2012 · Canadian2006 / CC BY-SA 3.0P.R.R. Passenger and Freight Depot Bolivar · Bolivar Community Centennial Commitee / Public domainBolivar Public School - 1904 · Bolivar Community Centennial Committee / Public domainReese Hammond Fire Brick Co, Plant No.2 Bolivar, PA 1907 · Original photographic print annotated 1907, photographer unknown. / Public domain
Bolivar is a small town of 386 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $51,563
and a 3.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bolivar stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Bolivar is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bolivar city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.4
Bolivar's overall cost of living index is 94.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bolivar costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bolivar, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$86,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$750
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,563
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bolivar's violent crime rate is 92.0 per 100,000 residents
— 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
92.0 /100k
Property Crime
287.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Bolivar, PA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bolivar sees average highs of 35.7°F in January
and 79.8°F in July,
with 49.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.2 inches of snow per year.
Bolivar's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bolivar roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $86,300 and median rent is $750/month.
Bolivar's violent crime rate is 92.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 287.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Bolivar, PA has a population of 386, a median household income of $51,563, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bolivar averages 35.7°F in January and 79.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.6 inches
with about 48.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bolivar, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 15923.
The population of Bolivar, Pennsylvania is 386 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bolivar: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $86,300, median household income $51,563, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bolivar side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
