F

Bulger, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 17/100

Population: 1,719 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Bulger, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,719 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (17/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $32,926, median home value of $157,800, median rent of $659 per month, and 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,299 per month (studio $1,001, 1BR $1,077, 3BR $1,661, 4BR $1,789).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education, housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.6% and poverty 14.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$32,926
Median household income
Education F
12.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.8x
Home value $157,800 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,299/mo
2BR fair market rent (47% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$32,926
▼ 47% vs national
Per Capita Income
$31,741
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Poverty Rate
14.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$157,800
▼ 43% vs national
Median Rent
$659/mo
Owner Occupied
86.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,299/mo
▲ 8% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,001
1BR
$1,077
2BR
$1,299
3BR
$1,661
4BR
$1,789

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
12.8%
▼ 17 ppt vs national
High School+
77.5%
Median Age
54.4
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Bulger, PA receives an overall affordability grade of F (17/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,719. Challenges include income and education and housing and rent. Data was unavailable for commute, safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Bulger ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Bulger, PA affordable?
Bulger, PA receives an overall affordability grade of F (17/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $32,926. Median home value is $157,800.
What is the cost of living in Bulger?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $659/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,299/mo. Median home value $157,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →