B-

Lake City, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 69/100

Population: 4,450 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Lake City, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 4,450 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (69/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $74,635, median home value of $168,200, median rent of $871 per month, and 29.4% 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 $1,212 per month (studio $836, 1BR $945, 3BR $1,499, 4BR $1,683).

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 Lake City, PA include housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 4.3% and poverty 9.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$74,635
Median household income
Education D
29.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A
2.3x
Home value $168,200 vs income
Commute C+
24 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,212/mo
2BR fair market rent (19% 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
$74,635
▲ 20% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,633
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Poverty Rate
9.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$168,200
▼ 39% vs national
Median Rent
$871/mo
Owner Occupied
85.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,212/mo
▲ 1% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$836
1BR
$945
2BR
$1,212
3BR
$1,499
4BR
$1,683

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%
▼ 1 ppt vs national
High School+
67.3%
Median Age
38.1
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Lake City, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (69/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 4,450. 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 Lake City ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Lake City, PA affordable?
Lake City, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (69/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $74,635. Median home value is $168,200.
What is the cost of living in Lake City?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $871/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,212/mo. Median home value $168,200.
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 →