RANK #362 / 996 · POP 91,340 · PA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.3%
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, is distinguished by Sunbury, its county seat, which holds a unique place in history as the first city in the world to be commercially lit by Thomas Edison's incandescent electric lights in 1883. Located in central Pennsylvania, the county is about an hour's drive north of Harrisburg. The community offers a blend of rural landscapes and small towns, with a commute time averaging 23.3 minutes, shorter than the national average. The Susquehanna River, a prominent natural feature, provides opportunities for outdoor recreation, including boating, fishing, and hiking at places like Shikellamy State Park, which offers scenic overlooks of the river's confluence. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) also provides 6,500 acres for motorized and non-motorized recreation.
Life in Northumberland County is characterized by a lower cost of living, particularly for housing, making homeownership accessible. The area appeals to families and retirees seeking a quieter lifestyle. Local school districts include Milton Area, Warrior Run, and Shikellamy. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and coal, is seeing new investment. Recent state initiatives are focused on developing "pad-ready" industrial sites to attract new businesses, with a particular interest in sectors like plastic manufacturing and controlled agriculture. This effort aims to create new job opportunities and strengthen the region's economic future.
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Northumberland Solar Project (Energix Renewables)
Energix Renewables
|
$78M | Under Construction |
|
Northumberland Solar PV Park (Dakota Power Partners/Enel Green Power North America)
Dakota Power Partners/Enel Green Power North America
|
$70M | Permitting |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Northumberland County has a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, ranking #362 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.4% and a median household income of $55,952, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Northumberland County is $141,300 with median rent at $751/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.396, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.4%. Home values changed +6.9% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.25% of Northumberland County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.