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City Housing Verdict

Bloomsburg, PA

High Pressure

Your dollar goes further in Bloomsburg, PA — everyday costs run about 13% below the national average (Cost Index: 87). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $248,140, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $49,096 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Bloomsburg already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 23% rent burden, 5.1x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 82. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Bloomsburg.

Monthly Housing
$937/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
23%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$2,654/mo
After housing and debt · $885/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 35%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
87
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$248,140
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $186,100
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$937/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$49,096
National: $78,538
Population
12,906
Purchasing Power
72
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
82 / 100
18% below average
Rent Index
70 / 100
30% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
87
Affordable · 13% below average

Bloomsburg Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $248,140 and Pennsylvania's property tax rate of 1.58%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$49,096
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
23%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Bloomsburg looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Bloomsburg, PA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$3,921
Monthly Impact
$327
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.58%
National avg: ~1.00%

Pennsylvania Place Tax Context

Tax TypePennsylvaniaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.58%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate3.07%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.34%~5.0%

Compare Bloomsburg to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Bloomsburg, PA
87
70
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Bloomsburg, PA: 82
Rent Prices
70

FAQ: Living in Bloomsburg

Is Bloomsburg, PA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Bloomsburg run about 13% below the US average (Cost Index: 87). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $248,140, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $937, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Bloomsburg fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $937, while local median household income is $49,096. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Bloomsburg, PA?+

Pennsylvania has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 3.07%. The effective property tax rate is 1.58%. On a home worth $248,140, that translates to roughly $3,921 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.34% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Bloomsburg, PA?+

The typical monthly rent in Bloomsburg is around $937. That's roughly 30% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $248,140, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Bloomsburg, PA?+

The median home in Bloomsburg is valued at $248,140. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,255/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 37% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Bloomsburg?+

Grocery prices in Bloomsburg are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Bloomsburg, PA like to live in?+

Bloomsburg is a small town with a population of about 12,906. The median age of residents is 24.4, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 30.57%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Pennsylvania

If Bloomsburg feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Pennsylvania

Use these city pages when you want to compare Bloomsburg against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly