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McKean County, PA: population growth, jobs and income

McKean County lost 305 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.8%).

McKean County had an estimated 38,984 residents in 2025, down 3.5% (1,421 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Pennsylvania as a whole (+0.5%), and the 62nd fastest growth of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the McKean County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for McKean County, ranked against Pennsylvania and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$809/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes15.9%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months172025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 94 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.

Private employers had 12,412 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +0.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 4.7% in 2025, 0.4 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 33 new homes in 2025, or 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $62,905 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +27.8% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,754th.

Part of the Bradford, PA micro area.

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McKean County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
202538,984−305
202439,289−262
202339,551−252
202239,803−547
202140,350−55
202040,405–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in McKean County

McKean County lost 1,421 people since 2020; the biggest drag was natural change (−1,224).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths−220−1,224
International migrationfrom and to other countries+6+61
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties−94−254
Census adjustmentbalancing residual+3−4
Total change−305−1,421

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn PennsylvaniaAmong U.S. counties
Population growth62nd of 672,754th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents59th of 672,275th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth28th of 671,758th of 3,092
Median household income46th of 671,783rd of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate46th of 672,325th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents52nd of 672,192nd of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for McKean County, PA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Neighbouring counties

Over 2020–25, McKean County's population change (−3.5%) was ahead of 3 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 4.

Only Elk County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 7 neighbouring counties; McKean County's was $62,905.

McKean County, PA and its 7 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
McKean County, PA This county38,984−3.5%−2.40.8$62,905
Elk County, PA29,926−3.3%−0.00.8$66,380
Cameron County, PA4,211−7.0%−16.90.0$50,573
Cattaraugus County, NY75,390−2.1%1.72.0$59,540
Potter County, PA15,897−3.0%−2.41.3$59,020
Warren County, PA37,038−3.8%−1.30.9$60,480
Forest County, PA6,614−5.1%12.70.3$52,191
Allegany County, NY46,800+0.9%1.02.1$62,869

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 67 Pennsylvania counties · Every state

Questions

Is McKean County growing?

No. Its population fell 3.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 1,421 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Pennsylvania as a whole changed +0.5% over the same years. That ranks 62nd of 67 counties in Pennsylvania for population growth.

How many people moved to McKean County?

On net, none in 2025: about 94 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in McKean County?

It averaged 4.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of McKean County?

About 38,984 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in McKean County?

Private employers there had 12,412 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +0.8% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Pennsylvania

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Pennsylvania county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

McKean County data alerts

Email me when McKean County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for McKean County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.