West Penn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania Population and Demographics

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

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 West Penn, Pennsylvania. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in West Penn, Pennsylvania. The estimated population of West Penn, Pennsylvania is 4,382 people, with a median age of 56.3.

We can look at the total population in West Penn over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
4,382
+1.72%
+1.41%
2020
4,308
-0.14% -
2019
4,314
+0.12%
-
2018
4,309
-0.28% -
2017
4,321
- -

Population of West Penn, Pennsylvania by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
98%
97.5%
+0.51%
Black/African American
0%
0.8%
-100.00%
Native
0%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
1.9%
1.6%
+18.75%
Asian
0%
0%
0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important 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 West Penn, Pennsylvania by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 56.3 +2.36% 56.7 +3.28% 55.8 -0.53%
2020 55 +8.91% 54.9 +9.36% 56.1 +10.87%
2019 50.5 -1.75% 50.2 -1.57% 50.6 -1.94%
2018 51.4 +4.9% 51 +4.29% 51.6 +4.03%
2017 49 - 48.9 - 49.6 -

The median age of West Penn, Pennsylvania 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, 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 97 +53.28% 276 -33.36% 149 167
10 to 19 260 -11.39% 161 +37.03% 212 186
20 to 29 197 -18.03% 153 +43.3% 146 210
30 to 39 98 +138.34% 138 5.48% 246 128
40 to 49 542 -59.27% 346 -72.46% 275 136
50 to 59 362 -13.45% 401 -6.97% 303 368
60 to 69 338 +52.38% 387 +11.76% 521 418
70+ 292 +58.98% 273 +49.9% 494 423

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of West Penn, Pennsylvania is $56,879.00.

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 West Penn.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $42,171.00
  • 45 to 64
    $67,875.00
  • 65 and over
    $55,901.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in West Penn, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in West Penn, 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 West Penn, Pennsylvania is currently $75,107.00.

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.

2.95% of households in West Penn 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 West Penn against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    15.58%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.02%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    26.52%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    7.49%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    13.24%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    9.19%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.95%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in West Penn is $34,872.00.

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

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

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in West Penn 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
    4.52%
  • Bachelor's degree
    25.25%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.41%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    58.74%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.08%

Employment

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

The total population of West Penn over the age of 16 is 3,834.

Of those people, a total of 50.70% 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 West Penn is 47.90%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 166 12.00% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 210 99.50% 26.30%
25 to 29 years 146 87.70% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 131 75.60% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 437 83.10% 3.90%
45 to 54 years 486 81.90% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 402 92.30% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 423 31.70% 9.70%
65 to 74 years 780 22.60% 0.00%
75 years and over 653 6.90% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in West Penn. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 3,830 50.70% 4.30%
Black or African American 1 0.00% 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 0 0.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 3 100.00% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 84 84.50% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 3,746 49.90% 4.40%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in West Penn as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in West Penn is 1,836, with median earnings of $47,052.00.

Women in West Penn, Pennsylvania earning approximately 79.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,836 $47,052.00
Male 1,091 $48,596.00
Female 745 $38,550.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings 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 136 $38,600.00
Business and Financial 24 $0.00
Computer and Mathematical 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 52 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 50 $33,000.00
Legal 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 94 $49,524.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 165 $63,197.00
Healthcare Support 17 $0.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 28 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 84 $13,594.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 33 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 64 $0.00
Sales 74 $43,125.00
Office and Administrative Support 309 $21,796.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 16 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 166 $65,781.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 112 $56,628.00
Production 93 $63,487.00
Transportation and Material Moving 163 $56,953.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

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 51 $34,519.00 85 $38,850.00
Business and Financial 0 $0.00 24 $0.00
Computer and Mathematical 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 52 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 33 $30,875.00 17 $0.00
Legal 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 42 $0.00 52 $56,250.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 0 $0.00 165 $63,197.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 17 $0.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 28 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 33 $0.00 51 $8,417.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 33 $0.00 0 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 15 $0.00 49 $0.00
Sales 16 $0.00 58 $29,286.00
Office and Administrative Support 162 $21,366.00 147 $31,971.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00 16 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 155 $66,641.00 11 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 112 $56,628.00 0 $0.00
Production 93 $63,487.00 0 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 135 $60,750.00 28 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is 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 2,002 households in West Penn, with an average household size of 2.19 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 1,418 families in West Penn with an average family size of 2.63 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.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 1,120 118 180 584
Average Household Size 2.63 2.3 2.83 1.11
Total Families 1,120 118 180 0
Average Household Size 2.63 2.3 2.83 0

Poverty

Of the 1,418 families in West Penn, 3.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in West Penn:

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 2,197 housing units in West Penn, Pennsylvania.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 2,002 91.12%
Vacant 195 8.88%

12.20% of the total 2,197 housing units in West Penn are rental units. This is approximately 268 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 1,591 are occupied by the owner - or 72.42% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in West Penn is $738.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in West Penn 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
    143
  • Less than $500
    32
  • $500 to $999
    194
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    42
  • $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 West Penn is $204,100.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    204
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    242
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    112
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    223
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    454
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    255
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    58
  • $1,000,000 or more
    43

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    360
  • 1940 to 1949
    49
  • 1950 to 1959
    187
  • 1960 to 1969
    17
  • 1970 to 1979
    331
  • 1980 to 1989
    198
  • 1990 to 1999
    444
  • 2000 to 2009
    518
  • 2010 to 2013
    93
  • 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 West Penn that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    0
  • 1 vehicle available
    603
  • 2 vehicles available
    748
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    651

Commuting to Work

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

36.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in West Penn.

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
    220
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    82
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    111
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    30
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    168
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    116
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    211
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    83
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    101
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    354
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    106
  • 90 or more minutes
    128

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for West Penn, Pennsylvania 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.