In Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Lycoming County, 23.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 77% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 52% of U.S. counties.
What drives Lycoming County's score
In Lycoming County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 73.7. Income and the safety net comes next, at 58.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Lycoming County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Lycoming County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (55, 2025) and people without health insurance (5.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 73.7 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent21.5% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.9% · fiscal year 202777th percentile
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- 58.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.1% · 202465th percentile
- Children below the poverty line21.6% · 202470th percentile
- People with a disability17.6% · 2020 to 202464th percentile
- People without health insurance5.2% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$61,034 · 202467th percentile
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- 49.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.4% · August 202548th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.0% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score40.7% · second quarter of 202651st percentile
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- 46.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202658th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.1% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
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- 29.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.3% · August 202546th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people55 · 202511th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Lycoming County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Lycoming County, 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Lycoming County
Pennsylvania
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Lycoming County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 27.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Lycoming County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.2% in 2010 to 11.3% in 2011.
The share of households in Lycoming County getting SNAP food aid rose by more than half from 2009 to 2024, reaching 14.9%
High on the chart: 15.9% in 2019. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
How Lycoming County has changed
Lycoming County's population had its largest rise, from 112,886 in 1969 to 117,354 in 1974.
Lycoming County's population was about the same in 2024 as in 1969
High on the chart: 122,273 in 1994. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
The number of jobs located in Lycoming County had its largest drop, from 53,016 in 2015 to 47,580 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Lycoming County fell 4% from 1990 to 2020, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 53,536 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.5% | 2025 4.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.4% | 2024 15.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,065 | 2024 $61,034 |
The table uses 4.7% for 2025; the score uses 4.1% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Lycoming County's history
1795
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania was founded on April 13, 1795. Wikipedia
1830
Underground Railroad operated 1830-1865 with many conductors. Wikipedia
1936
Flood March 17-18, 1936 crested at 33.9 feet. Wikipedia
1985
A tornado in May 1985 did $25 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
A flash flood in January 1996 killed six people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 120,044. The 2020 Census counted 114,188, 95% of the peak. Census Bureau
2010
A thunderstorm in September 2010 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flash flood in October 2016 did $26 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Lycoming County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Lycoming County beside its neighbors
Lycoming County scores higher than all nine counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Lycoming County ranks 7th of the 10; Potter County is highest, at 32.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lycoming County, PA | 52 | 15.1% | 27.6% |
| Northumberland County, PA | 48 | 14.2% | 31.6% |
| Clinton County, PA | 43 | 14.8% | 29.6% |
| Columbia County, PA | 43 | 13.5% | 26.9% |
| Potter County, PA | 43 | 13.9% | 32.8% |
| Bradford County, PA | 36 | 11.6% | 28.5% |
| Tioga County, PA | 35 | 11.4% | 31.0% |
| Sullivan County, PA | 22 | 12.8% | 32.7% |
| Montour County, PA | 14 | 9.8% | 22.4% |
| Union County, PA | 11 | 10.8% | 21.3% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Lycoming County the poorest county in Pennsylvania?
No, Lycoming County's poverty rate was 15.1% in 2024, 6th highest of 67 in Pennsylvania (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Forest County, at 22.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Lycoming County ranks 17th of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Lycoming County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Lycoming County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Lycoming County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.