17985 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 17985, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

17985 is a zip code in Columbia County and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, which covers Beaver, East Union, North Union, and Union, with a total population of 1,386 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 17985 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 17985.

The estimated population of people living in 17985 is 1,386, with a median age of 47.2.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 17985 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
1,386
+12.5%
+17.76%
2020
1,232
+2.33%
-
2019
1,204
 -0.08% -
2018
1,205
+2.38%
-
2017
1,177
 - -

Population of 17985 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 17985 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
90.5%
97.1%
 -6.80%
Black/African American
3.3%
0%
 0.00%
Native
0%
0%
 0.00%
Hispanic
5.3%
2.5%
 +112.00%
Asian
0%
0%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.5%
0.4%
 +25.00%
Other
0.3%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 17985 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 17985 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 17985 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 17985 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 47.2 -3.87% 47.6 -4.42% 46.1 -3.35%
2020 49.1 +2.94% 49.8 +1.01% 47.7 +2.8%
2019 47.7 -2.25% 49.3 -0.4% 46.4 -1.07%
2018 48.8 +0.62% 49.5 +2.48% 46.9 -3.3%
2017 48.5 - 48.3 - 48.5 -

The median age of the 17985 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 17985 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 46 5.92% 50 +70.05% 44 89
10 to 19 63 +57.13% 67 -20.25% 103 51
20 to 29 44 +18.42% 81 -37.68% 52 52
30 to 39 68 -7.23% 31 +136.73% 63 69
40 to 49 80 +34.33% 87 +51.21% 105 136
50 to 59 117 +2.01% 122 -52.66% 119 64
60 to 69 86 +15.45% 112 +27.01% 98 138
70+ 58 +50.08% 65 +60.55% 92 111

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 17985 zip code is $70,781.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 17985.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $81,250.00
  • 45 to 64
    $80,000.00
  • 65 and over
    $50,417.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 17985 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 17985, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 17985 is currently $79,685.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.31% of households in 17985 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 17985 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    14.00%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.34%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    14.00%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    18.13%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    21.54%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.67%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.31%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 17985 is $32,415.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 17985 by the total population of 17985.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 17985 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 17985 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    5.42%
  • Bachelor's degree
    12.55%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    13.27%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    65.19%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.57%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 17985 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 17985 zip over the age of 16 is 1,138.

Of those people, a total of 64.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 17985 is 63.30%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 17985 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 39 46.20% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 60 55.00% 0.00%
25 to 29 years 44 90.90% 7.50%
30 to 34 years 64 70.30% 8.90%
35 to 44 years 182 84.60% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 209 92.80% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 101 78.20% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 129 69.00% 2.20%
65 to 74 years 191 39.30% 0.00%
75 years and over 119 1.70% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 17985. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 1,095 64.50% 1.30%
Black or African American 9 100.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 0 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 8 50.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 26 38.50% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 46 78.30% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,072 63.70% 1.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 17985 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 17985 is 720, with median earnings of $44,250.00.

Women in 17985 are earning approximately 72.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 720 $44,250.00
Male 382 $52,500.00
Female 338 $38,173.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 17985 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 91 $62,708.00
Business and Financial 31 $56,250.00
Computer and Mathematical 9 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 15 $100,781.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 2 $0.00
Community and Social Service 7 $26,250.00
Legal 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 23 $71,250.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 3 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 52 $65,556.00
Healthcare Support 19 $26,250.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 6 $0.00
Law Enforcement 14 $86,250.00
Food Preparation and Serving 23 $6,250.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 15 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 18 $14,167.00
Sales 32 $31,250.00
Office and Administrative Support 112 $35,833.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 33 $48,750.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 53 $49,609.00
Production 63 $41,125.00
Transportation and Material Moving 49 $67,604.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 17985 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 17985.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 67 $65,208.00 24 $39,000.00
Business and Financial 13 $105,469.00 18 $52,045.00
Computer and Mathematical 0 $0.00 9 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 15 $100,781.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 2 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 7 $26,250.00
Legal 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 6 $0.00 17 $71,250.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 3 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 11 $0.00 41 $53,750.00
Healthcare Support 3 $0.00 16 $25,000.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 6 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 10 $0.00 4 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 17 $0.00 6 $0.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 7 $0.00 8 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 0 $0.00 18 $14,167.00
Sales 9 $34,063.00 23 $13,250.00
Office and Administrative Support 26 $27,500.00 86 $36,111.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 27 $43,125.00 6 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 53 $49,609.00 0 $0.00
Production 35 $43,125.00 28 $35,000.00
Transportation and Material Moving 46 $67,917.00 3 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 557 households in 17985, with an average household size of 2.49 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 370 families living in the 17985 zip code with an average family size of 2.93 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 17985:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 314 18 38 187
Average Household Size 3.03 3.56 2.71 1.43
Total Families 314 18 38 0
Average Household Size 3 2.83 2.34 0

Poverty

Of the 370 families living in 17985, 2.40% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 17985:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 669 housing units in 17985.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 557 83.26%
Vacant 112 16.74%

11.21% of the total 669 housing units in 17985 are rental units. This is approximately 75 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 474 are occupied by the owner - or 70.85% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 17985 is $955.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 17985 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    8
  • Less than $500
    14
  • $500 to $999
    28
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    33
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    0
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in 17985 is $155,900.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 17985 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    17
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    80
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    116
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    128
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    55
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    63
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    11
  • $1,000,000 or more
    4

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 17985. The chart below shows the number of properties in 17985 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    236
  • 1940 to 1949
    16
  • 1950 to 1959
    29
  • 1960 to 1969
    30
  • 1970 to 1979
    101
  • 1980 to 1989
    43
  • 1990 to 1999
    108
  • 2000 to 2009
    88
  • 2010 to 2013
    18
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 17985 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    11
  • 1 vehicle available
    115
  • 2 vehicles available
    272
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    159

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 17985 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 17985 that commute to work in a particular way.

30.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 17985.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    14
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    24
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    32
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    124
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    100
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    92
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    96
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    17
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    45
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    26
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    27
  • 90 or more minutes
    37

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 17985 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 17985

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 17985 compare to other zip codes in Pennsylvania, check out the list of all Pennsylvania zip codes below: