Study: Venango County Third in Pa. in Lowest Cost of Living

| March 8, 2018

FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – One website’s attempt to rank Pennsylvania’s counties by cost of living confirms what many already know – it’s cheap to live in this region.

Venango County ranked third in the state in relative cost of living and it is just one of several in the region that made the top 25.

Forest ranked second, Warren ranked sixth and Clarion ranked 14th.

Venango’s other neighboring counties, Mercer (No. 22), Crawford (No. 24) and Butler (No. 39) also ranked reasonably well.

The rankings compiled from information gathered by niche.com, attempted to measure the overall affordability and relative cost of living of an area by taking into account key factors such as a location’s housing, food, and fuel costs, as well as the median tax rates.

Data was gathered from the U.S. Census (2010) and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Venango County Commissioner Vince Witherup said the rankings indicate some of the advantages of living in a more rural area.

“Venango County is a wonderful place to live in my opinion,” Witherup said. “In the rural areas, the quality of life is higher. We don’t have much crime, compared to other places, our infrastructure is fairly good and our educational system is better than what you’d find in Pittsburgh.

“I can be in Pittsburgh in an hour and 15 minutes, too,” Witherup said. “It’s not for everyone, but we do have a lot to offer here.”

Venango’s population is 53,460, with a median home value of $82,700, median rent of $622 per month and a median household income of $43,885.

While Elk County ranks first in Pa. in terms of lowest cost of living, it’s no surprise that counties comprised mostly of urban areas – such as Allegheny, Bucks, and Delaware – rank among the highest.

Across the U.S., Shannon County in South Dakota is the cheapest place to live. Its population is just 14,005 with a median home value of $20,000.00 and median rent at $431 per month. Its median household income is $26,383.

The most expensive place to live, according to the Motley Fool, is Nassau County, N.Y. With a population of 1.3 million, mainly those who work in New York City, its median home value is $517,000. Its median rent is $3,100 per month. The median household income is $95,395.

Here’s a look at how neighboring counties measure up with Venango:

2. Forest County

Population: 7,493

Median home value: $85,600

Median rent: $538

Median household income: $36,594

6. Warren County

Population: 40,649

Median home value: $90,900

Median rent: $571

Median household income: $44,977

14. Clarion County

Population: 38,939

Median home value: $108,100

Median rent: $610

Median household income: $42,890

22. Mercer County

Population: 114,598

Median home value: $111,000

Median rent: $657

Median household income: $45,831

24. Crawford County

Population: 87,027

Median home value: $106,700

Median rent: $633

Median household income: $45,637

39. Butler County

Population: 185,974

Median home value: $183,200

Median rent: $771

Median household income: 63,345


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