RANK #259 / 996 · POP 143,201 · PA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.7%
Pottsville, home to America's oldest brewery, Yuengling, serves as the county seat and a central hub for Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Located in the east-central mountains, the county is approximately 97 miles northwest of Philadelphia and 47 miles west of Allentown. This region offers a slower pace of life compared to larger metropolitan areas, with nearly 70% of the county covered in forests, alongside rivers and streams. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, featuring three state parks—Locust Lake, Tuscarora, and Swatara—along with sections of the Appalachian Trail and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, providing opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating.
Life in Schuylkill County often appeals to those seeking affordability and a quieter community atmosphere. Commute times to nearby cities like Allentown or Reading can be around 45 minutes, while Philadelphia is about an hour and a half away. The Schuylkill Transportation System provides bus service within the county. Local public schools, such as Blue Mountain West/St. Ambrose School and Pine Grove Elementary School, are among the top-ranked in the county. The economy is driven by sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics, with ongoing investments in areas such as specialty gases manufacturing and distribution centers.
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.7x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Data Center Campus
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$20,000M | Planned |
|
KRNL Data Centers Campus
KRNL Data Centers
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
EMD Electronics Expansion
EMD Electronics
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Rattlin Run Hydropower Plant
Merchant Hydro
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center
Amazon
|
$50M | Completed |
|
Renewable Natural Gas Plant
Archaea Energy (BP) & UGI Energy Services
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Schuylkill County has a Boom Town Index score of 74/100, ranking #259 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.6% and a median household income of $63,574, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Schuylkill County is $127,900 with median rent at $801/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4971, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.6%. Home values changed +3.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.03% of Schuylkill County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.