‘Round the Square: Wealth follows population
Round the Square
March 31, 2026

‘Round the Square: Wealth follows population

POOR: There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania, and several of the poorest ones are in this geographic region.

McKean County is listed by Smart Asset as the 10th poorest with a median income of $61,705, investment income of $19,484, and a median home value of $99,922.

Cameron County is the poorest, with median income at $47,681, investment income at $12,256, and median home value of $74,031.

Ranked second is Forest County, then Cambria, Jefferson, Fayette, Northumberland, Warren, Indiana and Clearfield.

Potter County came in at 13th poorest, with a median income of $59,840, investment income of $22,824, and a median home value of $143,549.

Elk County was ranked at 22nd poorest, with a median income of $64,103, investment income of $27,982, and median home value at $104,564.

Conversely, the richest county in the state was listed as Chester, with a median income of $123,041. Chester is listed as the 57th wealthiest county in the U.S. 

In Pennsylvania, the remaining top 10 richest counties were Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Northampton, Cumberland, Butler, Lancaster, Monroe, and York.

The wealth in the state was, unsurprisingly, centered around population centers.

Nationally, the wealthiest county was Teton in Wyoming, followed by Pitkin County, Colo., Nantucket County, Mass., San Mateo and Santa Clara, both in California, Summit in Utah, Marin and San Francisco, both in California, and two counties in Virginia, Loudoun and Falls Church.

There are 62 counties in New York, with the poorest being Chautauqua, followed by Allegany and then Cattaraugus. The richest are New York County, Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk and Putnam.

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