Potter County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Potter County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Potter County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Pennsylvania
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Potter County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,453 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,635 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.0% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Potter County is about 24% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing faster in Potter County (4.8%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Potter County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Potter County, Pennsylvania grew by 60.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,453 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Potter County
| Metric | Potter County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.504 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,637 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,787 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.3% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Potter County, it is 0.504, lower than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 34% more than women's income in Potter County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 34% wage gap accumulates to roughly $519,750 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Potter County, Pennsylvania has widened from about 24% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2013, and was narrowest at 20% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,244 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Potter County widened by 0.9 points while Pennsylvania's narrowed by 5.7 points.
Employment
| Metric | Potter County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.7% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 279 people are unemployed in Potter County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Potter County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Potter County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 8.5% to 3.8% in 2024.
Potter County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Potter County, PA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 16,191 residents against a local median of 39,894. Where Potter County, PA breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 33% above the local median of 3.6%/yr at 4.8%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.8% against a local median of 5.6%, 32% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Potter County, PA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.8%/yr on income growth, so Potter County, PA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Potter County, PA has the highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potter County, PA | 16,191 | $59,453 #5/6 | 4.8%/yr #1/6 | 3.8% #1/6 | 0.504 #2/6 |
| Cameron County, PA | 4,427 | $50,531 | 2.9%/yr | 7.8% | 0.458 |
| Allegany County, NY | 47,155 | $63,166 | 4.6%/yr | 7.1% | 0.556 |
| Clinton County, PA | 37,796 | $60,839 | 3.3%/yr | 5.6% | 0.525 |
| Tioga County, PA | 40,945 | $64,575 | 3.6%/yr | 4.5% | 0.519 |
| McKean County, PA | 39,894 | $63,476 | 4.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.522 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Potter County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Pennsylvania, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Potter County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Potter County, Pennsylvania?
Potter County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $59,453, about 24% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
Are incomes growing in Potter County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Potter County, Pennsylvania rose 60%, from $37,089 to $59,453. Over the same years, income here outpaced Pennsylvania as a whole: +60% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Potter County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Potter County, Pennsylvania was $59,843, up 6% from $56,371 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Potter County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Potter County, Pennsylvania was $47,878. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $59,453.
How strong is the job market in Potter County, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Potter County, Pennsylvania is only 3.8%, well below the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Potter County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Potter County is 0.504. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Potter County, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Potter County, Pennsylvania has widened from about 24% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2013, and was narrowest at 20% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,244 since 2009.
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