Median Income
$57,700
household / year
Median Home Value
$266,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$872
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100

Is Mars, PA a Good Place to Live?

Mars is a small town of 1,169 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $57,700 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Mars stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mars is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mars 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

Mars's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mars costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric Mars, PA National Avg
Median Home Value $266,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $872 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 53.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $57,700 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Mars is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Mars is served primarily by Mars Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Mars, PA National Avg
School District Mars Area SD
Elementary Schools 2
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.1:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mars sees average highs of 34.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 42.4 inches of annual precipitation and 34.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricMars, PA
Average High — January34.3°F
Average High — July81.7°F
Annual Precipitation42.4"
Annual Snowfall34.9"

Demographics

MetricMars, PANational Avg
Population1,169
Median Age58.238.9
Unemployment Rate2.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.3%59.3%
Black or African American0.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino6.4%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 188.3%22.2%
65 and over33.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mars vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Mars's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mars roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $266,700 and median rent is $872/month.
Crime data for Mars is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Mars are operated by Mars Area SD. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mars, PA has a population of 1,169, a median household income of $57,700, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. 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.
Mars averages 34.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.4 inches with about 34.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Mars, Pennsylvania is 1,169 with a median age of 58.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mars: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $266,700, median household income $57,700, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mars side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.