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City Housing Verdict

Pottsville, PA

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Pottsville, PA — everyday costs run about 32% below the national average (Cost Index: 68). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $97,700, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $53,465 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Pottsville looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 18% rent burden, 1.8x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 32. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

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

Monthly Housing
$723/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
16%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,232/mo
After housing and debt · $1,077/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: property tax
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 27%
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Cost Index
68
Very Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$97,700
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$820/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$53,465
National: $78,538
Population
13,374
Purchasing Power
100
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
32 / 100
68% below average
Rent Index
61 / 100
39% 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
68
Very Affordable · 32% below average

Pottsville Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $97,700 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
$53,465
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
18%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
1.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Pottsville 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 Pottsville, PA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,544
Monthly Impact
$129
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 Pottsville 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.

Pottsville, PA
68
61
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Pottsville, PA: 32
Rent Prices
61

FAQ: Living in Pottsville

Is Pottsville, PA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Pottsville run about 32% below the US average (Cost Index: 68). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $97,700, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $820, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Pottsville fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $820, while local median household income is $53,465. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% 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 Pottsville, 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 $97,700, that translates to roughly $1,544 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.34% on everyday purchases.

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

The typical monthly rent in Pottsville is around $820. That's roughly 39% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $97,700, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

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

The median home in Pottsville is valued at $97,700. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $494/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 59% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Pottsville?+

Grocery prices in Pottsville 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 Pottsville, PA like to live in?+

Pottsville is a small town with a population of about 13,374. The median age of residents is 41.3, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 18.31%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Pennsylvania

If Pottsville 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 Pottsville 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