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Living in
Pottsville.
About
Life in Pottsville
Pottsville is a community of 13,374 people in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $54,332, median rent runs about $820 per month, and median home values are around $100,500. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.
Pottsville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.9%
Foreign-Born
1.0%
Broadband Internet
84.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.0% foreign-born, most often from Other Western Africa
Who lives in Pottsville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pottsville, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Western Africa (19.3%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
21.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.8%
of households
Married Couples
29.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.11
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 32% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Pottsville
In Pottsville, rent runs 32% below the PA average, and home values are 61% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,036
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
13.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $161,854 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Pottsville
Unemployment in Schuylkill County, which includes Pottsville, is 0.6 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Pottsville: Schuylkill County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Schuylkill County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Pottsville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.3 min avg
How Pottsville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pottsville, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 39 mi
Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
Regional airport · few flights470k passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pottsville runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
216.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
782.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pottsville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Schuylkill County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Schuylkill County, which includes Pottsville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2024 | 7 | Heavy Snow | $86,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Winter Weather | $49,000 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Schuylkill County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Berks County, PA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Pottsville) is typically good — 249 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
249
per year
Moderate Days
113
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Berks County, PA (24 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pottsville has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.7"
Annual Snowfall
30.2"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 20°F | 3.45" |
| Feb | 41°F | 22°F | 2.73" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 3.70" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.72" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.08" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.96" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 5.15" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.92" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 5.09" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.47" |
| Nov | 53°F | 33°F | 3.32" |
| Dec | 42°F | 26°F | 3.89" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pottsville
Pottsville has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Schuylkill Medical Center - South Jackson Street
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Geisinger St. Luke's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.7 mi away · Orwigsburg
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pottsville
Pottsville's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pottsville
Pottsville has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appalachian National Scenic Trail (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
22 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awaySteamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
58 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
61 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
67 mi awayFirst State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pottsville
Pottsville Free Public Library
215 W Market St, Pottsville
Cities Near Pottsville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pottsville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pottsville FAQ
Is Pottsville, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Pottsville's median rent is $822/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,332/year. Median home value is $100,500.
Is Pottsville, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Pottsville's violent crime rate was 216 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 782 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pottsville, Pennsylvania?⌄
Schuylkill County, which includes Pottsville, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pottsville, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Pottsville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $822/month and median household income is $54,332/year. The median home value is $100,500. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pottsville, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Pottsville is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from