B-

Coal Center, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 67/100

Population: 1,781 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Coal Center, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,781 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (67/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $77,857, median home value of $185,900, median rent of $986 per month, and 26.0% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Coal Center, PA include housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.5% and poverty 15.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$77,857
Median household income
Education D
26.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A-
2.4x
Home value $185,900 vs income
Commute C-
25 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,299/mo
2BR fair market rent (20% 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
$77,857
▲ 26% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,838
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Poverty Rate
15.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$185,900
▼ 32% vs national
Median Rent
$986/mo
Owner Occupied
86.5%
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+
26.0%
▼ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
72.1%
Median Age
43.7
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Coal Center, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,781. This area performs well in housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Coal Center ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Coal Center, PA affordable?
Coal Center, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $77,857. Median home value is $185,900.
What is the cost of living in Coal Center?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $986/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,299/mo. Median home value $185,900.
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 →