Pike St, Port Carbon PA 02 · Shuvaev / CC BY-SA 4.0Pike St, Port Carbon PA 03 · Shuvaev / CC BY-SA 4.0Port Carbon Public Library, Schuylkill Co PA 01 · Shuvaev / CC BY-SA 4.0Port Carbon Senior Citizens Center, Schuylkill Co PA · Shuvaev / CC BY-SA 4.0
Port Carbon is a small town of 1,748 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $54,706
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Port Carbon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Port Carbon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Port Carbon 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: 91.3
Port Carbon's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Port Carbon costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Port Carbon, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$96,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$810
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,706
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Port Carbon's violent crime rate is 76.4 per 100,000 residents
— 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
76.4 /100k
Property Crime
356.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Port Carbon, 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
14.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Port Carbon sees average highs of 32.5°F in January
and 80.2°F in July,
with 53.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.0 inches of snow per year.
Port Carbon's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Port Carbon roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $96,800 and median rent is $810/month.
Port Carbon's violent crime rate is 76.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 356.5 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.
Port Carbon, PA has a population of 1,748, a median household income of $54,706, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
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.
Port Carbon averages 32.5°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.6 inches
with about 48.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Port Carbon, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 17965.
The population of Port Carbon, Pennsylvania is 1,748 with a median age of 48.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Port Carbon: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $96,800, median household income $54,706, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Port Carbon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
