HomePennsylvaniaJefferson County
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania: commercial real estate data.
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania had an estimated 43,367 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,491, across 652 square miles. County output reached $1.88 bn in 2024, 1,113 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 34 7(a) approvals worth $25.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jefferson County
How many people live in Jefferson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,864
- Households18,344
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$58,686
- Median age44.0
- Median gross rent$750 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$139,700
- Home value to household income2.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over31,376
- Population under 189,365
- Share under 1821.4 percent
- Population 65 and over9,757
- Share 65 and over22.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6424,742
- Civilian labor force20,604
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.7 percent
- Rank by population among Pennsylvania counties48th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1119th of 3,222
Jefferson County is the 48th largest of 67 Pennsylvania counties by population. A median home costs 2.4 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.2 percent against 21.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202443,367
- Census 2020 base population44,491
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.53 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-258
- Births, 2024423
- Deaths, 2024575
- Natural change, 2024-152
- Net domestic migration, 2024-137
- Net international migration, 202432
- Total net migration, 2024-105
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-409
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2644th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.53 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jefferson County
Where are people moving to Jefferson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving789
- People arriving, from those returns1,369
- Tax returns filed by households leaving803
- Net household movement-14
- Adjusted gross income arriving$35.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$44,886
- Average income of a leaving household$42,326
- Largest single originClearfield County (209 households)
- Largest single destinationClearfield County (214 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearfield County | 209 | 343 | $9.0 m |
| Indiana County | 83 | 165 | $3.1 m |
| Clarion County | 70 | 141 | $2.8 m |
| Elk County | 39 | 65 | $2.3 m |
| Allegheny County | 38 | 50 | $1.6 m |
| Armstrong County | 21 | 37 | $935,000 |
Households arriving report $2,560 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Clearfield County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Jefferson County
What is the Jefferson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.88 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.84 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.1 percent
- GDP change over five years24.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Pennsylvania areas BEA publishes55th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1337th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$42,936
Output grew 2.1 percent in the latest year and 24.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Jefferson County
Employment by industry in Jefferson County
- Covered employment, annual average14,437
- Establishments reporting1,202
- Average annual pay$49,283
- Average weekly wage$948
- Manufacturing, employment3,622
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$59,521
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,317
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$45,934
- Retail trade, employment1,562
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,358
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,061
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$16,263
- Other services, except public administration, employment581
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment531
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,622 | 118 | $59,521 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,317 | 167 | $45,934 |
| Retail trade | 1,562 | 150 | $32,358 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,061 | 99 | $16,263 |
| Other services, except public administration | 581 | 109 | $28,761 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 531 | 48 | $46,085 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 526 | 70 | $52,275 |
| Construction | 476 | 92 | $57,093 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,622 jobs, 25.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jefferson County
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
- Establishments, all industries1,113
- Employment at those establishments13,508
- Annual payroll$607.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jefferson County
Building permits in Jefferson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20240
- Declared construction value permitted$0
- Single family units authorized0
- Multifamily units authorized0
No residential units were authorized by permit in 2024. In a small county this is common and is not by itself a sign of distress, but it does mean there is no recent residential pipeline to read demand from.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jefferson County
SBA loans in Jefferson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded34
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$25.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$760,541
- Median 7(a) approval$232,050
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,367,100
- Largest single approval$4,565,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)359
- Jobs per approval10.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active18
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer26.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter24
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals11.8 percent
- Most active lenderFirst Commonwealth Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.3 m
- Average 504 approval$1,671,500
- Median 504 approval$1,671,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval0.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved0.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$29.2 m
The average approval of $760,541 sits well above the median of $232,050, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 26.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jefferson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jefferson County
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full8
- Charged off1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure21
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Cancelled4
Only 9 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jefferson County
SBA lending by place in Jefferson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Brookville, approvals9
- Punxsutawney, approvals7
- Brockway, approvals6
- Sigel, approvals3
- Falls Creek, approvals2
- Wilcox, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Brookville | 9 | $11,528,900 |
| Punxsutawney | 7 | $941,500 |
| Brockway | 6 | $8,346,000 |
| Sigel | 3 | $549,900 |
| Falls Creek | 2 | $2,227,100 |
| Wilcox | 2 | $1,065,000 |
| Big Run | 2 | $500,000 |
| Clarington | 1 | $500,000 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 2 | $200,000 |
Brookville accounts for 9 approvals against 7 in Punxsutawney. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jefferson County
How large is Jefferson County?
- Land area652 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Pennsylvania counties35th of 67
- Width, east to west26.3 mi
- Height, north to south32.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land67
- Establishments per square mile1.71
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jefferson County
Flood risk in Jefferson County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book33
- Of those, participating in the NFIP33
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Jefferson County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Jefferson County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Jefferson County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Jefferson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,864
- Households18,344
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$58,686
- Median age44.0
Common questions
Jefferson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania?
The Census Bureau estimates 43,367 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,864, in 18,344 households, ranking 48th of 67 Pennsylvania counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.53 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,491, to 43,367 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 423 births against 575 deaths, with net migration of -105. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$58,686. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $139,700, which is 2.4 times income, and median gross rent is $750 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
1,113 establishments, employing 13,508 people with an annual payroll of $607.6 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Jefferson County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,622 jobs, 25.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 14,437 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,283, or $948 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County?
34 7(a) approvals totaling $25.9 m since FY2020, across 18 lenders, with a median approval of $232,050, plus 2 504 approvals worth $3.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jefferson County?
No residential units were authorized by permit in 2024. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jefferson County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Jefferson County come from?
The largest single origin is Clearfield County, with 209 households. Arriving households report an average income of $44,886 against $42,326 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jefferson County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Jefferson County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Jefferson County
Cities and places in Jefferson.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jefferson County. All 12 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punxsutawney | borough | 5,665 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Brookville | borough | 3,946 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Reynoldsville | borough | 2,431 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brockway | borough | 2,191 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Falls Creek | borough | 1,220 | 2 | 95.4 percent here, 4.6 percent Clearfield County |
| Sykesville | borough | 895 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Big Run | borough | 505 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Summerville | borough | 436 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Corsica | borough | 378 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crenshaw | CDP | 280 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Timblin | borough | 185 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Worthville | borough | 49 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 7 of the county's 34 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Jefferson County, the largest being Sigel (3), Wilcox (2), Clarington (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.