United States › Pennsylvania › Potter County COUNTY
Potter County Pennsylvania · 15,897 residents (2025 est.) · 1,081 sq mi
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The short version
Potter County is home to 16,188 people in Pennsylvania. The median age is 48.4, about 9 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $153,100, having more than doubled since 2000. There are 15 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 18,080 in 2000
15,897 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 16 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 17K 17K 18K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Potter County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $59,020
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,253 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,070 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.6%
Education & health services 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$153,100
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$809
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $432 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.3% in 2000
20.3% rent
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.43 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 44.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.7%(17,660)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(103)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.5%(15,305)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(279)
from 8 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 16 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 55.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 68.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 27.8%(1,896)
Women 15+
Never married 19.8%(1,339)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 26.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 64.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 49.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.9%(182)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.7%(253)
Share of the 1,223 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Potter County Head to head
Compare Potter County to nearby counties POTTER COUNTY VS
Cameron County
Income $50,573 −14%
Home value $88,900 −42%
Population 4,211 −74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Tioga County
Income $64,899 +10%
Home value $181,100 +18%
Population 40,502 +155%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Allegany County
Income $62,869 +7%
Home value $101,700 −34%
Population 46,800 +194%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
McKean County
Income $62,905 +7%
Home value $104,500 −32%
Population 38,984 +145%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Potter County, Pennsylvania? Potter County, Pennsylvania has about 16,188 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Potter County, Pennsylvania? The typical household in Potter County, Pennsylvania earns about $59,020 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Potter County, Pennsylvania expensive? In Potter County, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $153,100, and the typical rent is about $809 a month.
How educated are people in Potter County, Pennsylvania? About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Potter County, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Potter County, Pennsylvania? About 13.0% of people in Potter County, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.
Has Potter County, Pennsylvania grown since 1990? Yes, Potter County, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 529 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.
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