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 Moderate-density area
- $69,498
- Median income Near-median income area
- $239,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 18436 (Lake Ariel, PA) fell -8.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 224.3 in 2023 to 205.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,302. The poverty rate is 10.2%, with unemployment at 9.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $239,600 (5% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP) and median rent is $1,089; 85.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
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. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wayne County, so 18436 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Construction
Construction
65 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
28 establishments
- Retail trade 23
Retail trade
23 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 19
Health care and social assistance
19 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 17
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
17 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 18436?
52.3
Median Age
52.7%
Male
47.3%
Female
4.6%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$37,302
Per Capita Income
10.2%
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Unemployment Rate
32.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18436 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Lake Ariel, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$69,498 46th percentile higher than 46% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,861housing units
9,861
Total Housing Units
5,391
Occupied Units
4,470
Vacant Units
2.49
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$239,600
Median Home Value
+5% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 18436
Lake Ariel (18436)
13,853 residents
- 18472
Waymart (18472)
7,521 residents
- 18403
Archbald (18403)
7,087 residents
- 18445 2,329
Newfoundland (18445)
2,329 residents
- 18438 1,172
Lakeville (18438)
1,172 residents
- 18463 199
Sterling (18463)
199 residents
- 18427 118
Hamlin (18427)
118 residents
- 18459 51
South Canaan (18459)
51 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18436 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18436 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18463
Sterling (18463)
$100,972 median income
- 18403
Archbald (18403)
$77,521 median income
- 18436
Lake Ariel (18436)
$69,498 median income
- 18472
Waymart (18472)
$61,094 median income
- 18438
Lakeville (18438)
$60,972 median income
- 18445
Newfoundland (18445)
$53,429 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18436, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (13,853 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Wayne County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 18436's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18436 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lake Ariel, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.