Pennsylvania Route 61 and 147 in Sunbury · Jakec / CC BY-SA 4.0Walking path in Sunbury 2 · Jakec / CC BY-SA 4.0Court House Sketch - Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania - 1851 · Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 1821-1886, artist / Public domain
Sunbury is a small town of 9,680 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $42,238
and a 5.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sunbury stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sunbury is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sunbury 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: 90.2
Sunbury's overall cost of living index is 90.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sunbury costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sunbury, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$94,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$712
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,238
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Sunbury's violent crime rate is 52.7 per 100,000 residents
— 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
52.7 /100k
Property Crime
242.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sunbury is served primarily by Shikellamy SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sunbury, PA
National Avg
School District
Shikellamy SD
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sunbury sees average highs of 35.3°F in January
and 84.4°F in July,
with 43.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.6 inches of snow per year.
Sunbury's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sunbury roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $94,600 and median rent is $712/month.
Sunbury's violent crime rate is 52.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 242.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sunbury are operated by Shikellamy SD.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.8:1. 9.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sunbury, PA has a population of 9,680, a median household income of $42,238, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%.
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.
Sunbury averages 35.3°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.7 inches
with about 28.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Sunbury, Pennsylvania is 9,680 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sunbury: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $94,600, median household income $42,238, crime index 13 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sunbury side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
