PlainZIP

Lake Ariel, PA · standard

ZIP Code 18436

Wayne County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

13,853
59/sq mi
$69,498
Median income
$239,600
Median home value
21.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Lake Ariel pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

46th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 45%
home value, US ZIPs
59
people per sq mi
85%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18436 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 18436 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lake Ariel, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, home to 13,853 residents across 235.2 square miles, a density of 59 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 18436 reports a modest median household income of $69,498 (11% below the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $37,302. The poverty rate stands at 10.2% and the unemployment rate at 9.2%. Median home value sits at $239,600 (5% above the state average), median rent at $1,089 a month, and owner-occupancy at 85.0%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 52.3, and the average commute is 33 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 7 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 18436, plus 6 more within Wayne County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 18436

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Ariel, PA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18436.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 18436, Lake Ariel, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

13,853

Population

235.2

Area (sq mi)

59

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 18436?

52.3

Median Age

52.7%

Male

47.3%

Female

4.6%

Foreign-Born

White 95.0%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2.3%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$69,498

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$37,302

Per Capita Income

10.2%

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Unemployment Rate

32.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 18436 ranks nationally

Lake Ariel, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$69,498 46th percentile higher than 46% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 68.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

9,861

Total Housing Units

5,391

Occupied Units

4,470

Vacant Units

2.49

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 85.0%
Renter 15.0%

$239,600

Median Home Value

+5% vs state

$1,089

Median Rent

1983

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-8.3%

YoY Change (2024)

206

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+106%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 18436 have decreased 8.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +106% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.5% 148
2021 +14.3% 169
2022 +16.3% 196
2023 +14.2% 224
2024 -8.3% 206

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 232 business establishments in ZIP 18436, employing approximately 1,863 people with a combined annual payroll of $80,359,000.

232

Businesses

1,863

Employees

$80.4M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 65 28.0%
Other services (except public administration) 28 12.1%
Retail trade 23 9.9%
Health care and social assistance 19 8.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 17 7.3%
Accommodation and food services 17 7.3%
Transportation and warehousing 13 5.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 12 5.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 3.5%
Manufacturing 7 3.0%
Finance and insurance 5 2.2%
Utilities 4 1.7%
Wholesale trade 4 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 18436 vs 18427 →

ZIP 18436 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18436 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 18436 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 18436 ranks #3 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
18427 Hamlin, PA 118 2.3 mi
18463 Sterling, PA 199 6.1 mi
18459 South Canaan, PA 51 5.1 mi
18438 Lakeville, PA 1,172 7.4 mi
18472 Waymart, PA 7,521 10.2 mi
18445 Newfoundland, PA 2,329 9.8 mi
18403 Archbald, PA 7,087 8.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wayne County

18431 standard
Honesdale, PA
Pop: 12,666
18472 standard
Waymart, PA
Pop: 7,521
18405 standard
Beach Lake, PA
Pop: 2,561
18445 standard
Newfoundland, PA
Pop: 2,329
18415 standard
Damascus, PA
Pop: 1,245
18438 standard
Lakeville, PA
Pop: 1,172

Related Areas

Wayne County Lake Ariel, PA Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 18436 in? ▼
ZIP code 18436 (Lake Ariel) is located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Wayne County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wayne-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 18436? ▼
ZIP code 18436 in Lake Ariel, PA has a population of 13,853 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18436? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 18436 is $69,498, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18436? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 18436 is $239,600, which is 14% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18436? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 18436 is White at 95.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18436? ▼
ZIP code 18436 has 232 business establishments employing approximately 1,863 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18436? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18436 are: Construction (65), Other services (except public administration) (28), Retail trade (23). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18436? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18436 decreased by 8.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 106%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 18436? ▼
In ZIP code 18436, 68.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 18436? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18436 is 32.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 18436? ▼
In ZIP code 18436, approximately 85.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18436? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18436 is 10.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.