C

Nicholson, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 59/100

Population: 3,733 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Nicholson, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 3,733 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (59/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $71,157, median home value of $206,400, median rent of $846 per month, and 18.6% 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 $1,252 per month (studio $863, 1BR $1,028, 3BR $1,631, 4BR $1,766).

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 Nicholson, PA include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 3.4% and poverty 10.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$71,157
Median household income
Education F
18.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.9x
Home value $206,400 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,252/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% 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
$71,157
▲ 15% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,036
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Poverty Rate
10.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$206,400
▼ 25% vs national
Median Rent
$846/mo
Owner Occupied
83.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,252/mo
▲ 4% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$863
1BR
$1,028
2BR
$1,252
3BR
$1,631
4BR
$1,766

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
18.6%
▼ 11 ppt vs national
High School+
62.5%
Median Age
46.8
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Nicholson, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C (59/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 3,733. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Nicholson ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Nicholson, PA affordable?
Nicholson, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C (59/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $71,157. Median home value is $206,400.
What is the cost of living in Nicholson?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $846/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,252/mo. Median home value $206,400.
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 →